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PhrasesFood ShoppingHa la passata di pomodoro in barattolo?
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Ha la passata di pomodoro in barattolo?

Do you have tomato passata in jars?

Pronunciation

a la pas-SA-ta di po-mo-DO-ro in ba-RAT-to-lo

When to use it

Asking for jarred tomato passata — a staple of the Italian pantry.

What it means

Passata di pomodoro is smooth, strained tomato purée — different from diced tomatoes (polpa) or whole peeled tomatoes (pelati). It is the base of many Italian sauces. In jars (barattoli di vetro) it is considered higher quality than in Tetra Paks, with better flavour retention.

Variations

Preferisce in barattolo o in brick?

Do you prefer jars or cartons?

Comparing glass jar to Tetra Pak packaging

Ha la passata biologica?

Do you have organic passata?

Asking for certified organic tomato passata

Qual è la più densa?

Which is the thickest?

Asking for the highest concentration passata

Mini Dialogue

— Ha la passata di pomodoro in barattolo? — Sì — Mutti e Cirio al vetro, o quella della casa. — Quella della casa — è della regione? — Sì — pomodori di Pachino in Sicilia.

— Do you have tomato passata in jars? — Yes — Mutti and Cirio in glass, or our own brand. — The own brand — is it from the region? — Yes — Pachino tomatoes from Sicily.

Cultural Note

La conserva di pomodoro (home tomato preserving) is an Italian summer tradition, particularly in Campania and Puglia. Families gather in August to prepare passata, pelati, and pummarola in glass jars for the winter. This collective tradition — known as la salsa — is a UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage of southern Italy.