Italian Dried Herbs and Spices: Basil - 30g

Dried sweet basil from Tenuta Sant'Ilario, a farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Abruzzo coast. One ingredient in the tin: basil. Nothing added, nothing extended.

Pineto sits in the province of Teramo — the same province as Castelli, the majolica town Emilio Biordi came from when he opened Biordi Art Imports in 1946. Eighty years later we are bringing in the herbs from the same corner of Italy as the ceramics.

Basil is the backbone of Italian cooking: tomato sauce, pizza, minestrone, anything with mozzarella. Dried basil is not a substitute for fresh in a pesto or a caprese, but in a sauce that simmers it does something fresh basil cannot — it holds up to heat instead of collapsing. Add it early so it has time to open up.

Packed in a resealable tin filled by weight rather than volume, so it will not look full to the rim. It is concentrated: a pinch goes a long way. Pairs naturally with Deruta pasta bowls and serving pieces, and makes a good addition to a ceramic gift.

Net weight: 30g / 1.0 oz
Ingredients: Dried basil
Allergens: May contain traces of celery
Made in: Pineto, Abruzzo, Italy
Producer: Tenuta Sant'Ilario Pineto (Azienda Agricola Colancecco Laila)
Packaging: Resealable steel tin
Storage: Cool, dry place away from light; close tightly after each use
Sold as: Individual tin
Pairs with: Deruta pasta bowls, olive oil dishes, Tomassini pepper grinders

How is this different from supermarket dried basil?
One ingredient and a single Italian farm behind it. Supermarket dried basil is usually blended from several origins and sits on a shelf for a long time. This is packed by the farm in Pineto, Abruzzo, in a sealed tin that protects the oils that carry the flavor.

Does it contain allergens?
The label states it may contain traces of celery. No other allergens are listed.

How should I store it, and how long does it keep?
Cool, dry, out of direct light, tightly closed after each use. Each tin is stamped with a lot number and a best-before date. Dried herbs do not spoil so much as fade — use it within a year of opening for the best aroma.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
On its own, no — it is a consumable rather than something a couple keeps. It works well tucked into a larger gift: pair it with a Deruta pasta bowl or serving platter and it becomes part of the present rather than the whole of it. For a wedding gift meant to last, look at hand-painted Deruta dinnerware or Murano glass by Salviati.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes. It is the right size and price for a hostess gift, it travels well, and it gets used. Good on its own or alongside an olive oil dish or a small tray.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has imported from Italy since 1946 and is a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029). We buy directly from the makers — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati — and we know where each piece comes from. Questions: (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.

Tenuta Sant'Ilario — Pineto, Abruzzo — A working farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Adriatic coast in the province of Teramo. The herbs and spices are packed there under the Tenuta Sant'Ilario name, in small tins meant for a home kitchen rather than a warehouse. Pineto is in the same province as Castelli, the hill town Emilio Biordi left for San Francisco in the 1940s.

Italian ceramics are heirloom quality products, and can last lifetime with proper care. We have some suggestions that will preserve your majolica for years to come.

Majolica is dishwasher safe, but many people choose to hand wash their pieces as a precaution. Because majolica is a porous material, some pieces are not meant to hold liquid for a long period of time. Check for warning labels before ordering a product, as the pieces that are most notorious for "sweating" are appropriately labeled.

Majolica is sensitive to extreme temperatures, specifically boiling or freezing liquids. Pouring water with a rolling boil directly into a teapot, for example, may lead to breakage. To avoid this, temper the object. The industry standard is 620 degrees Celsius (1,148 degrees Fahrenheit). Quench the glass to cool it.

Crazing is common in well used majolica. The tiny cracks in the glaze do not affect the functionality of your majolica.

Majolica hand-crafted products should not be microwaved, as it may crack and/or break the ceramics.

UPS Ground

Flat shipping charge of $10 for each shipment of merchandise under $100.00. For orders of $100.00 or more, shipping is 10% of the order total.

UPS Next Day Air

Flat shipping charge of $63 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 90% of the order total.

UPS 2-Day Priority (Rush Shipping)

Flat shipping charge of $42 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 60% of the order total. Note: This option is required for shipping to Alaska and Hawaii.

USPS 3-Day Priority

Flat shipping charge of $21 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 30% of the order total.

International Shipments

Please contact us at customerservice@biordi.com or call us at (415) 392-8096 for quotes to ship internationally.

You will be charged a rate based on your delivery area, value and shipping preference. For items shipped via UPS, see below for information pricing information. Once the package is shipped, you will receive an email with tracking information to track your package.