made by silvio using the abundance of olivewood trunks left after the severe monte amiata frosts of 1985-86 which killed many trees

a beautiful natural product - each one is different

founded in 1605, giuseppe guisti in modena is the oldest and most awarded 'acetaia' in italy. the silver medal is aged for six years and has firm flavour, good balsamic acidity and intense bouquet of aroma - ideal for salads and raw vegetables

the de carlo family can trace their history as olive oil producers in puglia back some 500 years. this oil is stone ground at the family mill, with opening notes of grass and bitter herbs, nutty almond flavours with hints of apple and a balanced pepper finish

the most expensive of all spices - pure la mancha grade saffron filaments in a decorated tin

this paprika comes from extremadura and it's quality warrants the pimento de la vera d.o (denominacion de origen); it is a style of paprika known as agridulce (bitter/sweet), coarsely ground and smoked over oak to give a very distinctive flavour

one of the most important commodities of the spice trade - in mid-16th century antwerp the price of black pepper served as a barometer for european business in general

fleur de sel are the purest white sea salt crystals obtained by the traditional technique of sea water being drawn into basins and left to evaporate

your message handwritten on a tag attached to a mini whisk keyring - click on 'view packaging' to see

"one of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating"
luciano pavarotti