Flavours of Puglia

The Itria Valley is bursting with vibrant colours and earthy flavours. Peppered with brilliant white "trulli", the landscape is a rich tapestry of olives, figs, almonds, nectarines, cherries, lemons, "ficodindia" (prickly pear) and vineyards of ripening purple "primitivo" grapes. It is no surprise that Puglia supplies the rest of Italy with the majority of the country's olive oils, cheeses, pasta, wines, fruit and vegetables. Puglia is also the third largest producer of organic foods in Italy.

Specialities of the region include "orecchiete alle cime di rape", fresh pasta in the shape of "little ears" with turnip greens. The Greek influence means that lamb is often on the menu while cheese lovers will be in their element with the selection on the cheese board. In addition to fresh ricotta and mozzarella, a variety of hard goat cheeses are produced as well as regional specialities such as Burrate, Cacciocavallo and Cacioricotta. Puglia is also fast gaining a reputation for its wine. "Primitivo" is the most widely drunk of the local wines and can be sampled at wineries all over the region.