The typical cuisine of the Salento area, can be considered the "queen" of the Mediterranean diet due to its variety and healthy use of local produce.
Pasta, in particular home-made pasta moulded by expert hands, comes in various shapes and sizes: lasagne (broad flat noodles), orecchiette (small ear-shapes pasta), maccheroncini (small macaroni), and can be served in countless way.
You may find the use of wild thistles, Paparina and Lampascioni (vegetables only to be found in this region).
The main ingredient of the local cuisine is olive oil also called the "Gold" of the Salento area.Alongside the millennial tradition of olive oil we find the tradition of wine.
The wine produced in the Salento Region has a vigorous and intense character.
Some of the famous one are: Negro Amaro, Malvasia nera, Aleatico, Notarpanaro, Salice Salentino, Donna Marzia.
