Discover the True Flavour of Tuscany (2024)

FAQs

What are the flavors of Tuscan? ›

The Tuscan flavor profile includes herbs such as rosemary, basil, parsley, thyme and marjoram. Aromatics like onion, garlic, red bell pepper and spicy red pepper flakes along with cracked black pepper. Lemon and citrus play a large part in the Tuscan flavor so lemon zest and lemon crystals make an appearance as well.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Fiorentina steak)

We cannot talk about Tuscan dishes without mentioning the popular bistecca alla fiorentina: it is so famous that it is simply called fiorentina by everyone, already Pellegrino Artusi wrote about it, indicating its ideal measurements and weight.

This varies bottle to bottle, but most Super Tuscans are a blend of classic red Italian grapes, such as Sangiovese, and red grape varieties from outside the country, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah.

The Flavor Profile of Tuscan Wine

Super Tuscans can have a wide range of flavor profiles, tannins, and bodies. High-quality super Tuscans are full-bodied, rich, and spicy. Many of them feature familiar notes, such as cherry and plum. Other super Tuscans can have notes of tobacco, oak, cedar, or various spices.

Pappardelle. Large, very broad tagliatelle. A well-loved type of pasta in Tuscany.

One of the main differences between Tuscan and Italian cooking is the use of olive oil instead of butter, which is a staple in Italian cooking. For example, in Italy, they use balsamic vinegar as a condiment whereas, in Tuscany, they use it for salad dressings.

Tuscany is now one of the most famous and prolific wine regions anywhere in Europe. It is best known for its Sangiovese-based dry red wines which include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Sweeping Landscapes

The Tuscan countryside is dotted with farmhouses, olive groves, vineyards, and fields of sunflowers in the summer months. Tuscany is also home to many famous gardens, such as the Boboli Gardens near Florence and the Tarot Garden near Pescia. And don't forget Castello di Brolio!

What drink is Tuscany famous for? ›

Tuscany is also known for the dessert wine Vin Santo, made from a variety of the region's grapes. Tuscany has forty-one Denominazioni di origine controllata (DOC) and eleven Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). In the 1970s a new class of wines known in the trade as "Super Tuscans" emerged.

Toscana meat can encompass various types of meats commonly used in Tuscan cuisine, such as beef, pork, and game meats like wild boar. These meats are often prepared in traditional Tuscan dishes like bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine steak), porchetta (roast pork), and cinghiale in umido (stewed wild boar).

Tuscan Seasoning is similar in content to Italian Seasoning, but with a few added ingredients! We combine dried basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram and thyme, then add fennel seeds and garlic powder.

Tuscans love beans – as a side dish, with pasta, in a soup, as a puree, whether they are green, white, Borlotti or fava, beans are a staple in the diet of Tuscany, so much so that Tuscans are referred to by other Italians as mangiafa*gioli or “Bean Eaters.”

Tuscan Seasoning is similar in content to Italian Seasoning, but with a few added ingredients! We combine dried basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram and thyme, then add fennel seeds and garlic powder. Grind it up in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and you're done!

Tuscan interiors feature a rustic, sun-baked look characterized by crumbling stone patios, simple and sturdy furnishings with elegant iron accents, terra-cotta tiles, textured wall finishes, elegant, detailed murals and trompe l'oeil designs.

The most important differences among dialects is in the lexicon, which also distinguishes the different subdialects. The Tuscan lexicon is almost entirely shared with Standard Italian, but many words may be perceived as obsolete or literary by non-Tuscans. There are also many strictly-regional words and expressions.