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# 70 •OCTOBER 19 , 2015
cing the intensity of the
light and fostering the development of a heart with
the characteristic mottled cream colour in each
head. After grooming to
remove deteriorated or
unsuitable leaves, the taproot is cut and skinned in
proportion to the head.
Grooming must be performed immediately prior to
release to the product distribution chain. After grooming, the head is placed
in large containers with
running water for washing
and packaging. The heads
are then manually opened, literally leaf by leaf
(for this, the water used in
the final processing step
can be heated to avoid
damage) until they assume the characteristic rose
shape.
The area
The production, processing and packaging area
of Radicchio Variegato di
Castelfranco IGP includes
over 50 municipalities in
the provinces of Treviso,
Padua and Venice. Production is thus located in
the central Veneto plain,
which is characterized by
warm summers and harsh winters. The soil is fertile and particularly rich in
water: in fact, it is the area
crossed by the so-called
“line of springs” that separates the high and low
plains.
Anecdotes
In Treviso they tell the story
of a beautiful noblewoman from Castelfranco
Veneto who attended a
premiere at the Teatro alla
Scala in Milan adorning
her evening dress with a
marvellous head of radicchio from her town and
receiving many compliments for what everyone thought was an exotic
flower.
WE THE ITALIANS | 17
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