Red Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum)

Red Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum): from Africa to Lucania, a very particular Ethiopian eggplant cultivar selected in Southern Italy, where, for example, in the Lucanian town of Rotonda, it earned the DOP designation. Likely imported from Africa following the 20th-century occupation of Ethiopia, it once risked extinction, but now, thanks to the consortium created, it is enjoying good health.

The fruit, very similar to a tomato, lacks the typical eggplant flavor; it's spicier and slightly hot, while its texture is slightly tougher. Besides its organoleptic qualities, which make it a staple in many dishes, it's extremely rich in antioxidants; in fact, it doesn't turn black after cutting. The plant is very hardy and doesn't require frequent irrigation, but it doesn't tolerate waterlogging. Sow in spring, but winter sowing in a protected environment is also very good.

The Rotonda Red Eggplant is one of those varieties at risk of extinction that we distribute free of charge in the municipalities of origin and neighboring areas. Simply request it by leaving a message when ordering or by calling and collect it completely free of charge from our headquarters.

This Ethiopian eggplant cultivar was imported in the first half of the 20th century following the occupation of Ethiopia, likely out of curiosity due to its similarity to tomatoes, known in Lucanian dialect as merlingiana and pummadora. Breeding subsequently made it more suitable for consumption, with its current characteristics. It subsequently almost disappeared, but now, thanks to the foresight of Pollino growers who created a consortium and obtained the Protected Designation of Origin, it is successfully cultivated commercially, including for export. This demonstrates the potential of traditional, or heirloom, varieties.