Yes, you read it right, the strawberry tree (or corbezzolo, as it’s known in the Belpaese) is considered one of our country’s symbols. It all started with the words of poet Giovanni Pascoli, representative of the Italian Decadentism, active between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Pascoli was the first to associate the strawberry tree with the Italian flag, making of it a symbol of national unity: in the ode Al Corbezzolo, Pascoli cites the tale of Pallas, son of Evander, who lost his life in Italy to protect Aeneas, ancestor of the founders of Rome – at least according to Virgil, of course. Pallas was, so to speak, the first to die for Italy, as he had sacrificed himself for the man whose descendants were to found Rome herself; his body was laid to rest on a bed of strawberry tree’s branches, the white of their flowers, red of their fruits and green of their leaves recalling the colors of our very own flag.
And that’s how Pascoli made of corbezzolo the botanic equivalent of the tricolore.
The strawberry tree has the unique characteristic of bearing fruits and flowers at the same time creating, along with its deep-green leaves, the same chromatic contrast of our flag. Corbezzolo, or arbutus unedo, is a typical evergreen of the Mediterranean scrub, which can reach five meters (or about 16 feet) in height. It is commonly used as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens, where it grows luxuriously especially in sunny areas; just like the country it represents, the strawberry tree is hardy, and it is known to stand the strong winds typical of the Italian coastline particularly well.
Its beautiful, bell-shaped flowers grow in groups and are as white as the snow of our Alps; its fruits are bright red and, beside being pretty, they are also edible. However, getting rid of their seeds is quite time-consuming, so they are most commonly used to make jams and preserves, also in name of their high sugar content (about 20%). But don’t be fooled by the “sugary” side of them: these sweet delicacies are packed with sterols, flavonoids and vitamins, so they are pretty good for you, in the end.
Its leaves are a common ingredient in traditional herbal medicine, where they are utilized as an antiseptic, as well as to fight against urinary tract infections. Thanks to its diuretic characteristics, corbezzolo is used to cleanse the body and is known to alleviate both abdominal pains and diarrhea. Teas made with its dry leaves can help liver functions, and support renal activity. Some believe that corbezzolo tea can even help prevent cognitive aging!
But the strawberry tree is also known for the aromatic, balsamic honey derived from its flowers. While it is certainly not among the most common varieties in the country – we are all about wild flower or acacia honey in Italy, perhaps a tad of chestnut honey, if you want to be fancy – it is nevertheless appreciated, especially by connoisseurs, who love its bitterness and the way it goes perfectly with that of another famous staple of the Italian kitchen, coffee.
And in the kitchen, corbezzolo honey can be used to cook bitter-tasting vegetables such as artichokes and chard, or as an addition to sweet cheeses. In Sardinia, corbezzolo honey is used to prepared a traditional type of torrone, the torrone al miele di corbezzolo.
And this is how, following a path unfolding among poetry and mythology, history and dream, nature and the kitchen, the humble strawberry tree, its beautiful flowers and precious leaves and fruits, became the symbol of our beloved country and of the flag that has been representing it for more that 150 years. While its status is not “official” (that is, it’s not like our national anthem), the colorful corbezzolo adds poetic allure to the origins and history of our unified country, connecting it directly, through the words of Pascoli’s, to the ancient heroic world we love to think we all come from.
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