The Ustica lentil is a product whose unique characteristics make it a symbol of the island’s identity. In the past, the threshing process was done manually: the plants were trampled underfoot while large stones were dragged by donkeys, followed by a trident-shaped tool. Afterwards, the farmers would toss the mixture of straw and lentils into the air, using the wind to separate the two. Today, this phase of production has changed completely.

The soil is prepared for lentil cultivation, and sowing takes place between December and January. After about fifteen days, the plants begin to sprout. Until March, the soil is worked regularly to remove weeds through a series of hoeing sessions. In March, the flowering begins. From that point until May, the soil is left undisturbed. With summer approaching, the harvesting is taken over by the threshing machine. Once harvested, the lentils are bagged and prepared for sale.

 

This element has been included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of local interest of the Municipality of Ustica, as part of Intervention 2 “Activation of the Observatory on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Territory through the application of the REIL methodology – Register of Intangible Heritage of Local Interest”, within the”Ustum Cultural Programme” project, funded by the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), Mission: Digitalisation, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism, Component: Tourism and culture 4.0, Investment 2.1 “Attractiveness of villages.” CUP: E24H22000130006.