THE RED ONION OF TROPEA. INTERVIEW WITH DR. SEBASTIANO RUSSO

Those who visit Calabria cannot help but taste a particular type of onion called "Calabria’s onion", or "red onion" or, more commonly, "Tropea’s onion", which is widely used in the kitchen. It takes these names because it is grown exclusively in Calabria, especially in the territories of Tropea, Vibo Valentia, Nicotera, Campora San Giovanni, Amantea, Capo Vaticano, Pizzo Calabro and in the hamlet of San Nicolò of the town of Ricadi. It was introduced in Calabria by the ancient Greeks, Assyrians, Babylonians and Phoenicians. It has a delicious taste, compelling, refined, ready to grab our palate. Due to its characteristics, the red onion helps to contrast certain diseases including diabetes, liver disorders, and it is suggested in the cardiac diets. We asked the pharmacist, herbalist, and nutrition consultant Dr. Sebastiano Russo for more information on this type of vegetable.

"The red onion, Allium Cepa - explains Dr. Russo - has many nutritional properties thanks to the chemical composition that characterize it:

Dr. Sebastiano Russo

1) Remarkable amount of water (90%).

2) Source of minerals (iron, potassium, magnesium, sulphur, zinc, chromium).

3) Presence of Vitamin C and of the vitamin complex B (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6).

We can also highlight the presence of various substances including the Anthocyanins, which also give the typical red colour, and especially Quercetin, a flavonoid particularly useful against free radicals with powerful antioxidant action. Precisely thanks to the presence of Quercetin the red onion of Tropea is very effective in reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) thus preventing the formation of plaques in the arteries and therefore useful in preventing the onset of cardio vascular diseases (heart attack, stroke).

Recent American studies are demonstrating that the synergistic activity between Quercetin and Anthocyanins has positive anti-cancer effects, especially the ones that affects the breast, the prostate and the lung (activity through which a process called 'Apoptosis' is triggered by spontaneous death of tumour cells). In the red onion there is also the presence of Allicin (active ingredient present in garlic) and thanks to the antibacterial and antiviral activity of the latter, the red onion of Tropea is able to improve the body's immune response. Of course there are many other actions of the red onion of Tropea such as the presence of chromium which, by promoting the production of insulin, regulates the levels of sugar in the blood.

Certainly - concludes doctor Russo - the excessive use of the onion is not without contraindications, in fact, for excessive use we can have heartburn and considerable meteorism”.

Since 2008, Tropea’s onion has obtained the I.G.P. denomination (Protected Geographical Indication).

Curiosity: in ancient times the farmers used donkeys or handcarts pulled by oxen to transport the onions from the fields to the railway station of Tropea, or to the port of Parghelia.

                                                                                                                     Salvatore Cifalinò