We are all now aware that between the artisanal and industrial pasta there is a serious and profound, but little known, difference. And the awareness of this difference becomes more and more evident, given the increase in the demand for artisanal pasta by consumers at the expense of the industrial one which for obvious reasons producers must maintain “standard” quality due to the low market price , but with a much higher quantity of consumption than the artisan product.
This explains how difficult it is for the latter to compete on the retail price front: compared to the 1.5 euro per kilo of the most recognizable industrial pasta, the artisan pasta can cost up to 6 euro per kilo. In addition, the large national industrial pasta factories offer us advertisements such as “100% produced with Italian durum wheat” or make us fond with their “social attentions” on the territory.
The differences between industrial pasta and artisan pasta already arise from the type of wheat used and its cultivation: to make such large numbers, unfortunately, industrial pasta must necessarily resort to the large granaries of Europe (Ukraine) and the world (Canada, Turkey , Argentina), while the artisanal productions, being in smaller quantities, take advantage of our traditional wheat from local Italian crops, where wheat occupies about 35% of the arable land, about a third of the entire area in agricultural rotation and 70% of the area cultivated with cereals.
If, for marketing reasons, industrial pastas must maintain a production with “standard” quality to ensure that they are always recognizable in taste, color and flavor, in the case of artisanal pasta, the production of the single vintage can lead to significant color differences and cooking times.
The large industrial consumption has accustomed us to an almost plastic and chewy taste unlike the artisanal pasta that sometimes seems soft and not nervine, due to a low gluten content (all health). We should go back to basics, to appreciate the true taste of quality, natural and healthy pasta. Of course, bombarded as we are by continuous advertising, it is difficult to support certain realities, but if only we tried to get out of the crowd and look beyond the “cool and captivating” packaging, we would realize that the substance is more important than any fashion.
It is a challenge like that of David against Goliath, but we will never tire of fighting it!