Ark of taste
An
ark of taste is a movement originally defined in
eco-gastronomy, to protect "gastronomic products threatened by industrial standardization,
hyperhygienist legislation, the rules of the large-scale retail trade and the deterioration of the environment," according to the
Slow Food movement. Originally begun in Northern Italy, the program has regional offices in
Germany,
France,
Switzerland and the
United States.
An ark of taste is intended to rediscover, catalogue, describe and promote "almost forgotten flavors", e.g. violino di capra, e.g. Caciocavallo podolico, e.g.mullet roe. These food products are in "danger of extinction" due to agricultural policy, consumer habits, wholesale or regulatory standards.
Those that are deemed to have real productive and commercial potential, can often be revived, e.g. by local groups devoted to creating these "arks" to promote organic food and localism in agriculture.
See also: seed bank
The Slow Food movement classifies potential products into the following categories:
- Vegetable species, varieties and ecotypes
- Vegetable-derived processed products
- Vinegar
- Preserves (jams, sauces etc)
- Cakes and biscuits
- Musts and wine-based beverages (excluding herb- and fruit-based liqueurs)
- Olive oil
- Mechanically-extracted seed oil (walnut, hazelnut oil etc.)
- Bread
- Pasta
- Oven-baked products
- Wine
- Animal populations
- Animal breeds for human consumption
- Animal-derived processed products
External links
Ark of taste