Rosso di Lucca, aquila or lupinaro, cannellino di San Ginese, malato, and mascherino are just some of the names by which various Lucchesia beans are known. This diverse collection of ecotypes and varieties is a central aspect of the agricultural and food history of Lucca and the surrounding hills. The importance of these beans in the territory of Lucca is apparent in the numerous local dishes of local cuisine that use them, from soups to main courses to and as an accompaniment for meat, fish, and vegetables. Beans have always played an important role in the life of the local population, both because peasants grew them for subsistence and because they were exchanged for other agricultural products. Reference is made to the cultivation of beans, as well as to specific varieties, in local statutes and in monographs such as Le pratiche della campagna lucchese (“The practices of the Lucca countryside”), written in 1846 by the Marquis Antonio Mazzarosa, and these texts include information on cultivation techniques, yields, and the economic results expected from this agricultural activity. Other documents, including some from the Church, testify to the presence of beans in the local economy and the Statute of Compito of 1781 talks about beans that were grown in the territory around Compito in hilly outcrops of the Lucca Plain.
It is precisely the characteristics of the land of the Lucca plain, which was dedicated for centuries to the cultivation of cereals and beans, that give all of the local beans their characteristic delicacy. Lucca Red Beans were produced in the most fertile areas of the plain in medium-textured, sandy soils, and, particularly in Lucca and Capannori, in the lands near the waterways, where corn and beans were cultivated together. The beans are characterized by a red color of varying intensity, with streaks ranging from dark to blackish. They somewhat resemble the borlotto bean, but should absolutely not be confused with this type. Their intense fragrance and flavor and soft texture make Lucca Red Beans ideal for traditional first courses from Lucca, including soup with farro, zuppa alla frantoiana, and pasta and beans. Unfortunately, in recent decades, these dishes were progressively abandoned because restaurateurs and the local population considered them poor and of little interest. In combination with the high costs of traditional cultivation (which is characterized by a lack of mechanization), this disincentivized production and now only a few hobbyists continue to grow Lucca Red Beams, almost exclusively for their own consumption.
Season
The beans are picked from August to early September and are available dried year-round
Production area
Lucca, Capannori and Porcari Municipalities, Lucca Province
Presidium supported by
Funds collected from the Alliance project linking Italian chefs and Slow Food Presidia in 2011
Agriturismo biologico Nicobio
Località Gello di Sopra, 119
Orbiciano Camaiore (Lu)
Tel. +39 349 6932333
info@nicobio.it
Agriturismo La Conte
Via Villa Altieri, 840
San Donato (Lu)
Tel. +39 329 0624298
agriturismolaconte@yahoo.it
Francesco Chiocca
Via delle Muricciole, 142 D
Località Carignano
Lucca
Tel. +39 339 8883083
francescochiocca1@gmail.com
Renzo del Prete
Via Pierini, 13
San Ginese di Compito
Capannori (Lu)
Tel. +39 347 4472231
Guido Favilla
Via Randelli, 278
Picciorana
Lucca
Tel. +39 338 7575603
guido.favilla@gmail.com
guidofavilla.com
Marco Giorgi
Via di Tiglio, 845
Capannori (Lu)
Tel. +39 338 9661580-349 3593873
info@deliziefamigliagiorgi.com
www.deliziefamigliagiorgi.com
Giovanni Giovannoni
Via di Villa, 23
San Ginese di Compito
Capannori (Lu)
Tel. +39 366 4299280
Simone Paganelli
Via della Chiesa, 11
Toriago
Capannori (Lu)
Tel. +39 339 3457993
margpaganelli.mp@gmail.com
Danilo Picchi
Via dell’Arpino, 11
Capannori (Lu)
Tel. +39 339 6006923
Mariano Pinochi
Via Nuova, 45
Paganico
Capannori (Lu)
Tel. +39 392 1789729
Alessandro Rossi
Via Molino di Mezzo, 434
Località San Pietro A Vico
Lucca
Tel. +39 349 8080482
rossialessandro817@gmail.com
Marketing is done directly by the growers or through the cooperative:
L’Unitaria Coop
Via del Sesto, 1
Porcari (Lu)
Tel. +39 329 7399748
marco@lunitaria.it