Pestèda

Pestèda is a traditional seasoning blend that hails from the ancient village of Grosio, consisting of garlic, salt, pepper, and aromatic herbs such as leaves of dwarf alpine yarrow or musk yarrow, wild thyme, juniper berries, or cinnamon.

Its name means beaten, referring to the method of preparation that involves pounding the combination of herbs and spices in a mortar to produce a highly aromatic mixture, characterized by an intense, slightly spicy flavor. Due to its distinctive aroma and flavor, pestèda has spread throughout the whole region of Valtellina over the years, yielding numerous variations on the traditional blend with some calling for the addition of wine (such as Sasella), brandy, or grappa.

This seasoning is nowadays a staple flavor enhancer incorporated into a wide range of traditional specialties of the region including meat, fish, carpaccios, vegetables, potatoes, raclette, guanciale, lard, Valtellina rice, and various pasta dishes such as pizzoccheri alla valtellinese.