DOP San Marzano tomatoes are a special variety of tomato that grows in the Sarnese-Nocerino district in Campania, Italy, near Naples. Like any product labeled DOP (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin), San Marzano tomatoes are cultivated in a specifically defined region. In the case of DOP San Marzano tomatoes, the area in which they are grown is regarded as sacred ground due to its perfect growing conditions: mineral rich volcanic soil, abundant water sources and constant relative humidity. All these factors contribute to the characteristics that make these tomatoes so special. DOP San Marzano tomatoes are grown at the base of Mount Vesuvius. Courtesy Anthony Contrino What makes these tomatoes so special? Their meaty flesh and minimal seeds are key for cooking tomato sauces, where water is evaporated out as the sauce simmers. The less water to lose, the more tomato flavor you keep! Since Campania is the home of pizza Napoletana and the historic center of pasta production in Italy, it makes sense that farmers here would be especially focused on tomatoes for sauce. The San Marzano tomato was first bred in the small town of San Marzano sul Sarno, one of the 16 towns that make up the current Agro Sarnese-Nocero region, in the early 1900s, and has been a favorite here for more than 100 years. These tomatoes came out of the can a vivid red color—exactly what you want for making marinara sauce or pizza sauce. The Alessi tomatoes were a bit softer than other options we tried, but for sauces where you really want the tomato to break down and melt into the mixture, that’s ideal. Additionally, these tomatoes weren’t oversweet—another great feature for cooked sauces. The San Marzano tomato is a variety of plum tomatoes which grows well in warm climates. But it’s the tomatoes grown in the volcanic soils near Mount Vesuvius in Italy that can be certified in the same way as French Champagne or Parmigiano Reggiano. Obviously, unless you’re in Italy, you won’t find them fresh at your local market. But instead, look for the certified, canned tomatoes labeled “Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese- Nocerino DOP”. If you are a food enthusiast, you might have heard of San Marzano tomatoes. They are renowned worldwide for their unique flavor, texture, and versatility in different dishes. But not all San Marzano tomatoes are created equal. The authentic ones are marked with the DOP label, which stands for "Denominazione di Origine Protetta" or "Protected Designation of Origin." This means that they are grown and processed in a specific region in Italy according to strict regulations. In this article, we will guide you through the key points that you should know when looking for DOP San Marzano tomatoes.

The name on the front label of the can should read the words: Pomodoro San Marzano Dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino D.O.P. If you’re making chili, minestrone or other hearty soups, odds are the recipe will call for a can or two of tomatoes. While many recipes will suggest stewed or diced tomatoes, our Test Kitchen says substitute in a can of San Marzano tomatoes—particularly Mutti Pomodoro San Marzano. All you have to do is dice the tomatoes to the right size and consistency. These two things must both be on the can for the tomatoes to be authentic DOP San Marzano tomatoes. Growing San Marzano tomatoes This variety of tomato is grown in the mountains of Campania, a region in southern Italy with hot, dry summers and cool winters. The rich volcanic soil and Mediterranean climate create an ideal environment for growing these juicy and flavourful tomatoes. They boast a Protected Designation of Origin status which specifies the precise cultivar, processing method and region in which the tomatoes can be grown. This time-honoured and careful process is what makes them so sought after. Why do chefs use San Marzano tomatoes?

Best Dop San Marzano Tomatoes FAQs

One of the most popular uses for La Valle San Marzano tomatoes is in the making of Vera Pizza Napoletana, or True Neapolitan Pizza. This style of pizza is known for its thin, crispy crust and simple yet flavorful toppings, including San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. With its rich, robust flavor and smooth, velvety texture, La Valle San Marzano tomatoes are the perfect ingredient for creating an authentic and delicious Neapolitan-style pizza. Tinned tomatoes are a versatile store cupboard staple for making pizza and pasta sauces, rich curries and seafood stews. But how should you decide which tinned tomatoes to buy? What makes San Marzano tomatoes so special? And are plum tinned tomatoes really better than chopped? Read our buyer’s guide to discover everything you need to know about the best tinned tomatoes. Salt And Pepper: Salt and pepper are not just an afterthought in a great Italian tomato sauce; they're essential to enhancing the flavor.

Our pomodoro sauce uses San Marzano tomatoes. This variety are ideal for sauces, thanks to their dense flesh and fantastic fragrance. We’ve added garlic cloves for mellow sweetness, and salt to help enhance the natural sweetness of tomatoes. Royalty's Gift: Legend has it that the first seeds of San Marzano tomatoes were a precious gift from the Viceroyalty of Peru to the King of Naples in 1770. Talk about a high-profile housewarming present! If you like a good glass of wine, I highly recommend a great Merlot or Zinfandel. Have a look at my big list of vegan wines for more recommendations of Vegan Society trademarked wines. Storage: once opened, pour the product into a container for food, keep in the fridge at 4°C and use within 2 days. These tomatoes have a huge reputation and boast a Protected Designation of Origin status (DOP, or sometimes written as PDO - Denominazione d'Origine Protetta) which specifies the precise cultivar, processing method and region in which the tomatoes can be grown. Many say that these specifications do indeed make San Marzano the best tomatoes you can buy.

Can I Grow Them at Home? 

Our DaniCoop Gustarosso DOP San Marzano tomatoes are produced according to the highest standards of quality and sustainability by Danicoop, a cooperative of about 100 farmers in the Agro Sarnese Nocerino. In this small area south of Napoli, the fertile Vesuvian soils create the ideal growing conditions for these outstanding tomatoes, enhanced by the cooperative's centuries-old cultivation methods, including manual spring water irrigation and hand-harvesting. What makes San Marzano tomatoes from Agro Sarnese Nocerino so unique is the terroir, or that unrepeatable combination of geography, soil, climate, and know-how. In fact, the flavor of these tomatoes was so good, you could use them in any recipe where tomatoes are the star. These Hunt’s tomatoes will shine. Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Choose an oil you like the taste of because it will influence the final result. Olive oil, like all oils, has a shelf life. For extra virgin olive oil it’s usually 12-18 from bottling. Old oil can taste bitter and will spoil the recipe so use fresh oil.

Cento Certified San Marzano Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes are a premium product that has been carefully crafted to provide a delicious and authentic flavor. These tomatoes are grown in the Sarnese Nocerino area of Italy, which is renowned for its rich volcanic soil and proximity to Mount Vesuvius. This area provides the ideal environment for growing the San Marzano variety of tomatoes, which are considered by many to be the best in the world. San Marzano" denotes a specific variety that is cultivated in a particular region of Italy, known as the Agro Sarnese Nocerino. This area is located in the valley of the Sarno River, close to Mount Vesuvius. As a D.O.P certified product, La Valle San Marzano tomatoes meet strict standards of quality and authenticity. This certification ensures that the tomatoes are grown in a specific geographic area using traditional methods, and that they meet rigorous criteria for taste, texture, and appearance. San Marzano tomatoes have less seeds than the typical plum tomato. Photo courtesy of I Love San Marzano DOP Where are San Marzano tomatoes grown?

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Each can of La Valle San Marzano tomatoes contains 28 ounces of peeled tomatoes in a rich and flavorful tomato puree with basil. The tomatoes are carefully selected at the peak of ripeness and canned within hours of harvest to preserve their freshness and flavor. The result is a product that is both convenient and delicious, perfect for use in a wide range of recipes. San Marzano is a type of plum tomato. Their shape, flavour and texture is what sets them aside from other tomato varieties, and they are a staple in kitchens across the world. The sweet flavour of these tomatoes make them a great addition to pasta and pizza sauces.

Cento Certified San Marzano Tomatoes are certified by an independent third-party agency, Agri-Cert In 1985, Bioagricert became the first body accredited by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture for the certification and control of vegetable, animal, and processed organic products. In 1993 Bioagricert was recognized by the Ministry of Agricultural Politics as Authorized National Body for the Control and Certification of Organic Productions. Bioagricert is also notably recognized as the first Italian organization working to promote the organic culture in countries outside Europe. Today, Bioagricert works throughout Italy as well as many countries throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and North America as an authority in food inspection and certification., and produced with the proper method to ensure superior quality. From seed to shelf, our tomatoes are monitored and held to the highest of our standards. Ironically, San Marzano tomatoes are also grown in the USA. However, they obviously do not have DOP status, and professional chefs swear that the soil and climate the DOP Italian tomatoes grow in are major contributing factor to their unique flavor. It's up to you which variety you choose, but if possible, I'd recommend searching out the original DOP status Italian variety. You can find them online and in Italian specialty stores. ingredients Ingredients Scanning the grocery store shelves filled with many canned tomato brands can be confusing. The best way to choose the highest quality canned tomatoes is to look for the DOP label.While many brands include preservatives such as citric acid or salt, San Marzano DOP tomatoes do not.Real San Marzanos make the perfect tomato sauce, according to our taste tests. The volcanic soil plains of Mount Vesuvius are known throughout the world as The Italian Tomato Heartland. How can you tell if your canned tomatoes are San Marzano tomatoes DOP? Be sure to chop the onion very finely or if your knife skills aren’t the best, mince the onion. Remember to follow the recipe and only use half an onion or a small onion.