ZenziGUSTO - Quaglietta Zenzifero Festival

A festival born from a unique herb

ZenziGUSTO - Zenzifero Festival is the most anticipated summer event in Quaglietta, a charming medieval village part of the Municipality of Calabritto, in the province of Avellino. Located at the southern tip of Irpinia, just a few kilometers from the border with the Salerno area, the village comes alive every August 18th and 19th. Piazza San Nicola and the stone-paved alleys fill with long tables, tasting stalls, and visitors from across the Sele Valley eager to savor dishes prepared with zenzifero.

Zenzifero is the local dialect name for an aromatic mint from the Lamiaceae family that grows only in this specific area. It thrives in the damp, shady zones along the Sele River and near the numerous springs that inspired the Latin name of the local Pro Loco, Aquae Electae. Its scent is intense, with notes reminiscent of basil and lemon, and it should not be confused with common mint. It is the signature ingredient that defines Quaglietta's cuisine and has become the true identity symbol of the entire hamlet.

Zenzifero ravioli, a PAT product of Campania

The festival's signature dish is the zenzifero ravioli: fresh pasta filled with zenzifero, eggs, ricotta, and cheese, served with a simple tomato sauce. In 2017, it was officially registered as a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT) of the Campania Region, a recognition reserved for preparations with a recipe handed down unchanged for at least twenty-five years. To ensure traceability and hygiene standards, the festival's ravioli are crafted according to the traditional recipe by a local pasta maker under the supervision of the Pro Loco.

Alongside the ravioli, the stalls offer other specialties born from this unique herb and the local peasant tradition:

• Zenzifero cheese, a semi-fresh mixed-milk cheese
• Zenzifero liqueur, a digestive with a balsamic aroma
• Meat with peppers, a staple of the evening menu
• Wild fennel sausage
• Local wild fennel taralli

A 'Quality Festival' recognized by the UNPLI

ZenziGUSTO has earned the Quality Festival certification from the UNPLI (National Union of Pro Loco of Italy). This label rewards the historical and documented bond between the event and its territory, the quality and traceability of raw materials, and environmental awareness. In line with this commitment, the event is plastic-free: plates, cups, and cutlery distributed at the stalls are entirely biodegradable. The menu also remains strictly faithful to local tradition, avoiding standardized fair food.

The medieval village of Quaglietta

The festival is the perfect opportunity to explore the village. Quaglietta, an autonomous municipality until 1928 and now a hamlet of Calabritto, preserves a medieval layout nestled at the foot of the castle perched on the cliff and the 17th-century Church of Santa Maria ad Ripas. In past editions, the Pro Loco has organized free night tours with expert guides during the two evenings, while some of the restored houses in the old town host an albergo diffuso (scattered hotel) that allows visitors to stay within the ancient walls.

The atmosphere of the evening

The stalls open at 8:00 PM in Piazza San Nicola, creating a classic village fair atmosphere: open-air dining, live folk music, and strolls through the illuminated alleys. Falling just after Ferragosto, ZenziGUSTO ideally closes the summer calendar of the Sele Valley and is considered one of the most authentic gastronomic events in inland Campania, attracting both locals returning for the holidays and curious visitors from Avellino, Salerno, and the Sele-Tanagro towns.