Taste and use

That's what makes this Sicilian "timilia" couscous so special:

• Taste: The couscous made from "Timilia" durum wheat has a strong, full-bodied taste with the typical cinnamon-like aroma of this ancient grain variety. The grains are rather thick.
• Quality feature: This couscous is made from the grain and husk of "Timilia" durum wheat. The husk content corresponds to whole grain couscous.
• Use: Timilia" couscous is ideal for a rustic salad, as a light side dish or as a sweet dish. Pour more or less salted water over the couscous and leave to stand for 5 to 7 minutes. Then add a little olive oil and fluff with a fork or, for the sweet version, season with milk and dried dates.

Cultivation and ecology

This is how "Timilia" durum wheat is grown:

• Cultivation method: Organic farming. "Timilia" is grown by various members of the Valdibella cooperative. The yields are lower than on a conventional wheat field. "But this wheat is ideal for organic farming: it is very resistant to diseases and I don't have to invest money in fertilizer or pest control," says Massimiliano, one of the producers. "Timilia" durum wheat can only be grown on the same field every three years. In the crop rotation, legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, as well as other cereals, are planted in between. The legumes bind nitrogen from the air and thus maintain soil fertility. The "Timilia" durum wheat is sown in February. Before sowing, the soil is gently cultivated without plowing. It can be harvested in May or June. In our video to find out more about the durum wheat variety "Timilia".
• Producers: The durum wheat is grown by various members of the Valdibella cooperative. The grain is ground at Molino Paratore and Bia Spa uses it to make couscous. Here you can find a blog post about "Timilia" cultivation. Valdibella uses the "Addio Pizzo" label to declare that it does not pay protection money to criminal organizations.
  

This is how the price is made up

Producers can sell the "Timilia" grain to the cooperative for 0.70 euros per kilogram. Conventional durum wheat from the EU is traded at 0.20 to 0.25 euros.

Cultivation & processing CHF 3.77

• Cultivation and harvesting: Various members of the Cooperativa Valdibella
• Processing: Molino Paratore, Bia Spa

Transport & logistics CHF 2.57

• Export and logistics: Valdibella, Galliker
• Fees: Customs
• Quality assurance: SQTS laboratory
• Packaging: Zurich plant
• Shipping: Post

Procurement & distribution CHF 2.35

• Coordination, communication, online market: Crowd Container