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What is cinta senese?

Q: What is cinta senese?

The Cinta Senese is a Tuscan pig breed, recognizable by its black coat crossed by a wide white band around the shoulders — the «cinta», which gives it its name. Originating from the surroundings of Siena, it is traditionally raised outdoors, notably in the woods, where it forages for acorns, herbs and roots, with supplementary feeding. It is also depicted in a Sienese fresco from the 14th century, an ancient testament to its place in local rural life. The name also refers to a meat protected by a European PDO since 2012: to carry this designation, the meat must come from purebred Cinta Senese pigs raised in Tuscany according to a set of specifications. Note that a dish simply labeled «Cinta Senese» does not by itself guarantee this certification: look for the mention Cinta Senese DOP on the label or menu. You will find it mainly in charcuterie and pork dishes; its meat is generally more marbled than that of many intensively farmed pigs.

The Cinta Senese is a Tuscan pig breed, recognizable by its black coat crossed by a wide white band around the shoulders — the "cinta", which gives it its name. Originating from the area around Siena, it is traditionally raised outdoors, especially in the woods, where it forages for acorns, herbs and roots, with supplementary feeding. It is also depicted in a fourteenth-century Sienese fresco^e century, an ancient testament to its place in local rural life.

The name also refers to a meat protected by a European PDO since 2012 : to carry this designation, the meat must come from purebred Cinta Senese pigs raised in Tuscany according to a set of specifications. Note that a dish simply labeled "Cinta Senese" does not by itself guarantee this certification: look for the mention Cinta Senese DOP on the label or the menu. You will find it mainly in charcuterie and pork dishes; its meat is generally more marbled than that of many intensively farmed pigs.