Ingredient Wiki: San Marzano Tomatoes

San Marzano tomatoes, a variety of plum tomatoes, are considered by many chefs to be the best sauce tomatoes in the world. The story goes that the first seed of the San Marzano tomato came to Campania in 1770, as a gift from the Kingdom of Peru to the Kingdom of Naples, and that it was planted in the area that corresponds to the present commune of San Marzano. They come from a small town of the same name near Naples, Italy, and were first grown in volcanic soil in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. The volcanic soil is believed to act as a filter for water impurities. Compared to the Roma tomatoes with which most people are familiar, Marzano tomatoes are thinner and pointier in shape. The flesh is much thicker with fewer seeds, and the taste is much stronger, more sweet and less acidic. Many people describe the taste as bittersweet, like high-quality chocolate. Because of their high quality and origins near Naples, San Marzano tomatoes have been designated as the only tomatoes that can be used for Vera Pizza Napoletana (True Neapolitan Pizza).

The name denotes both a point of origin and a variety of tomato. Canned Marzanos grown in Italy in compliance with Italian law will have the EU ?DOP? emblem on the label.

Though commercial production of the San Marzano variety is most closely associated with Italy, seeds for the variety are available worldwide, often labeled as an heirloom variety, frequently imported from Italy, and sold at a premium over more common varieties.

San Marzano tomato seeds brought to North America and planted in many states produce a good crop, but the taste never compares with that of those grown near Naples. Terroir in growing tomatoes plays as much a role as it does for grapes.

The San Marzano vines are indeterminate and have a somewhat longer season than other paste tomato varieties, making them more suitable for warmer climates. As is typical of heirloom plants, San Marzano is an open pollinated variety that breeds true from generation to generation, making seed saving practical for the home gardener or farmer.

Italians are masters of the tomato sauce often used in pastas, soups and pizzas. Of course, meat dishes and often stews are liberally flavoured with fresh or canned tomatoes.

Brands available in supermarkets include Cento, Nina, La Bella, Solinia, Vantia, and Strianese. Most San Marzano tomatoes sold commercially are grown in Italy, though they are produced commercially in smaller quantities in other countries.

All of the Ingredient Wiki has been created and compiled by I Sicilian and from sources on the web like Food Wikipedia and other Food Reference books