A foodie’s simplified guide to artisan food!

If you have ever visited a gourmet food store, you must have found labels containing the term ‘artisan’. What is artisan food? Why do foodies are eager to try these products, items and ingredients?

Below are some of the aspects at a glance. 

Knowing artisan food

Also known as artisanal food, artisan food refers to ingredients, especially cured meats, oil, preserved foods, and cheeses and vinegars, which are produced using non-industrial methods. Artisan food items are expensive, because these are not recipes that you will find locally or at the regular stores. Often, these are old recipes, which have passed from one generation to another. Artisan food is not just about taste alone, but it is also about preserving culture, which is why it’s important for everyone, including people who take interest in it. Since the production process is traditional and often requires time, each of the items are produced naturally, and therefore, the amount produced is also minimal.

How is artisan food made?

Artisan food helps in preserving culinary tastes and traditions, and the experts who make these foods are focused on all aspects – how the basic ingredients are procured and used, and what’s good about each of them. Taste is what makes artisanal food different, so usually, the culinary experts do their best to improve the same, but without losing out on the traditional recipe. Most of the artisan processes are complicated and involve minimal use of technology. To keep up the goodness of the ingredients used, most artisan foods use home-grown ingredients sourced from local farms.

What should you buy?

If you are just trying out artisan food, we recommend that you read up a bit on history of the concerned country. For example, if you are buying items from Italy, you should be stocking oils, sauces, vinegars, almond milk, spices and sea salts. You may also want to try some of the signature recipes, which are stocked and stored for future consumption. Each company is different and produces its own collection, so it is also a good idea to know more on the brand. Find more on the production values, where the artisan foods are made, and the history and experience of artisan experts.

In a world of junk food and processed items, artisan food has a place that’s important and adds to the culture and society beyond the taste. Try for yourself, and we promise you will thank us!