Quality ingredients make for the best quality couscous

Consisting of many tiny granules made from steamed and dried premium quality Italian durum wheat, Martino couscous has become a popular alternative to rice and pasta. It has a light fluffy texture which goes well with a variety of meats and vegetables as it readily soaks up the flavours of other ingredients. Or, for people who prefer a bit of more pronounced taste, we developed our Conventional Flavoured range, which takes you on an exotic culinary trip.

Ever tried an Italian Couscous?

Couscous originates from North Africa, and is the staple ingredient in the North African diet. The term couscous also refers to dishes made with combinations of meat, vegetables and spices and combined with the semolina-based product. But it’s the quality of the ingredients that makes couscous into the versatile, scrumptious and light meal that we know it to be!

This is why, in addition to our century-old tradition in couscous making, Martino has turned to modernization of production as well as selecting only authentic and bio Italian wheat to prepare its range of signature products. The combination of 100% Italian wheat and pure water from the Matese mountain has produced our Martino couscous line of organic, delicious and easy to prepare products.

The ingenuity of marrying traditions with modern methods of production and superior ingredients is truly the crowning achievement of Martino’s legacy in couscous making. Naturally, goodness is hard work. And while traditional preparation of couscous was truly a laborious task, we are lucky to be able to take advantage of the mechanization of the process nowadays. The result is an even more refined product with lighter texture and fluffy taste, which cooks quicker and soaks your favourite flavours easier.

Organically Grown Wheat – The Secret to Martino’s quality

Martino has long worked only with farmers who are committed to agricultural practices that don’t involve the use of synthetic substances (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) except those provided by the standards. This includes prohibited substances can have been applied to the land for 3 years prior to harvest.

The land must have defined boundaries and buffer zones preventing the crop to have contact with prohibited substances from adjoining land.

Soil fertility and crop nutrient management must be done in a manner to improve soil conditions, minimize soil erosion, and prevent contamination of crops, soil or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms or heavy metals.

All of these criteria are met with the wheat used in all of Martino’s couscous products and is locally grown in Italy under strict mechanical and physical methods for pest and weed control that never rely on the use of pesticides. We strongly believe in sustainable agriculture and working with wheat farmers who respect our environment, culture and commitment to preserving biodiversity.

Afterwards, we move on to process the organically produced wheat inside our factory for the purpose of retarding spoilage or otherwise preparing the bio couscous product for market. For this purpose, we use pure Matese mountain water to bring out the taste of the durum wheat. This includes acceptable processing aids and ingredients, appropriate packaging materials and labelling, cleaning methods, waste disposal and pest management at our processing facilities.

Couscous for everyone

A century-old tradition of high quality products and upright values allows Martino to produce couscous varieties that are fit for any health plan, dietary requirement and taste. Our signature ranges Prestige, Organic, Kids, Al Naturale, Ready to Eat Meal, Ho Re Ca and Conventional Flavoured have each been designed with care and utmost attention to every detail to ensure we never compromise on quality. All of our products are created for those who want the best: steaming, first quality grain, unique organoleptic and nutritional qualities for their authentic Italian taste products.

This has allowed us to achieve a new standard of quality for couscous products, where our traditions and quality of ingredients has made Martino a household name.

Made from whole grain durum wheat semolina, quick cooking Martino Couscous is wholesome, hearty, and ready in minutes! A staple of North African cuisine for hundreds of years, couscous makes a great side dish or alternative to pasta, rice, or grains. Light and fluffy, durum wheat couscous has a slightly more pronounced flavour than regular couscous and the pure water from the Matese mountain accentuates its texture and taste.

Not quite a whole grain and not quite a pasta, couscous lies somewhere between the two

To make it, semolina (cracked grains resulting from the first milling of durum wheat) is moistened with water and then rolled in flour to form tiny pellets. These are then steamed and dried so that the couscous only needs to be reheated before serving.

Semolina is a great source of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and B Vitamins (especially thiamine, niacin, and folate). Durum wheat, a variant of ancient emmer wheat, is exceptionally high in protein and relatively low in gluten, which is why we have chosen it for our range of couscous products. The hardest of all wheat types, it is most often milled into flour or semolina for use in making pasta, couscous, pizza dough, and flatbreads. And the pure water from the Matese mountain brings out the unique flavour of the 100% authentic Italian wheat Martino’s products are known for.

The end result is couscous that is not only tasty and easy to prepare, but also offers an abundance of nutrients. This is especially true for couscous that is certified and of high quality with long traditions in how it is milled as with the family-owned Martino company. Because the key to consuming healthy food choices is the way in which the food is prepared, it is important to be able to trace your food back to its humble beginnings.

Let us know your thoughts on your favourite Martino couscous product and how it has helped you maintain a healthy diet.