The White Bean from Rotonda, also affectionately known as “Poverello” (“poor man’s bean”), represents a true treasure of Basilicata’s food and wine heritage and a cornerstone of the rich fruit and vegetable traditions of the Pollino area.
Recognizable by its striped, light-yellow pod and its oval, snow-white seed with no markings, this bean thrives in the fresh, pure mountain air. It prefers the unique microclimate of the Pollino, where summer temperatures rarely exceed 30°C, conditions that favor a slow and natural ripening.
Harvested by hand between September and October, the beans are offered in different forms depending on the season: freshly picked, still in their pods, or carefully pre-shelled and dried for later use. Their delicate skin and creamy consistency make them not only a versatile ingredient in traditional Lucanian cuisine but also a symbol of the region’s agricultural wisdom passed down through generations.
