ITALY’S TIMELESS MOUNTAIN STAPLE 

Polenta is one of the great culinary treasures of Northern Italy - a golden, comforting staple that has nourished generations. From the Alpine foothills to the misty plains of the Po Valley, it remains a symbol of warmth, simplicity, and rustic Italian tradition.

A Land Shaped by Water, Sun and Alpine Fields

Northern Italy is the homeland of corn-based polenta. Here, fertile soils enriched by Alpine minerals, pure mountain waters, and long sunny summers create ideal conditions for growing maize of exceptional flavour and aroma. The landscapes of Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino, and Piedmont - a mosaic of valleys, rivers, and canal-fed plains - have shaped both the cultivation of corn and the cuisine built around it.

From Ancient Porridges to a Cornfield Icon

When maize arrived from the Americas in the 16th century, it quickly took root in Northern Italy and transformed local cooking. For centuries before that, “polenta” referred to porridges made from spelt, millet, or buckwheat. With the introduction of corn, polenta evolved into the dish we know today and became a daily staple by the 17th and 18th centuries.

It fed farmers, warmed mountain communities, and became a symbol of family kitchens - shared from large copper cauldrons (paioli) and stirred slowly with wooden paddles. Over time, countless regional interpretations emerged: coarse Bramata, fine Fioretto, nutty Integrale, delicate Bianca, hearty Taragna with buckwheat, and rich Concia with cheese and butter. Each tells a story of place, people, and tradition.

Respecting Tradition Through Gentle Craft

Traditional polenta demands patience - up to an hour of slow, careful stirring. Polenta Svelta preserves this heritage while offering a modern, time-saving approach. Made from carefully selected Italian corn, the coarse meal is gently steam-pre-cooked and then dried, reducing cooking time to just three minutes while maintaining the authentic aroma and flavour of classic polenta.

This minimal, respectful process preserves the natural sweetness and fragrance of the corn. The product contains only cornmeal, with no additives and no artificial colourings, and is naturally gluten-free. Finally, it is vacuum-packed to protect freshness and purity - a modern safeguard for a traditional food.

Italian Quality Protected from Field to Pack

Fontana FORMIELLO Polenta Svelta is made exclusively from 100% Italian, GMO-free corn and processed in Italy under strict quality controls. While polenta is not a DOP or IGP product, its authenticity is guaranteed through traceable sourcing, traditional milling, respectful steam-cooking, and careful packaging.

What Makes Polenta Svelta Unique

Polenta Svelta offers:

• Aromatic purity - the natural fragrance of Italian corn
• Smooth, consistent texture - uniform grain size ensures creamy softness without lumps
• Versatility - perfect served soft and warm or set, sliced, grilled, or fried
• Reliability - cooks in minutes while delivering the comforting flavour of traditional polenta
• Natural integrity - minimal processing, pure corn, and nothing unnecessary added

This is quick-cooking polenta that still tastes as though it has been stirred patiently in a copper pot.

Simple to Prepare, Endless in Possibilities

To prepare:

Bring 2 litres of salted water to a boil (4 parts water to 1 part polenta).

Pour in the polenta gradually, stirring continuously for about 3 minutes.

For a firmer consistency, cook a little longer.

Enjoy it:

• creamy with braised meats, ragù, sausages, wild mushrooms, or aged cheeses
• set, sliced, and grilled as an elegant appetiser
• pan-fried to accompany seafood, vegetables, or truffle toppings
• as the base of rustic mountain dishes or refined contemporary plates

Polenta is the ultimate “golden canvas” of Northern Italian cuisine.

A Taste of Northern Italy in Every Spoonful

Every warm spoonful of polenta carries the memory of Alpine valleys, stone kitchens, and centuries of Italian tradition. With Polenta Svelta, that heritage reaches your table in moments - bringing the taste of Northern Italy’s fields, firesides, and family kitchens to life once more.

Our promise is simple: pure maize flour, gently crafted and minimally processed, with no preservatives, no colourings, and nothing unnecessary. Just the natural, honest flavour of Italy’s culinary heritage.

A tradition carried forward today by the fourth generation of the Coppola family, who have been sharing and celebrating Italian food since 1903.