An 85-year-old Italian grandmother has become the new world champion of pesto, proving that tradition and experience can still outperform younger competitors on the global stage.
Carla Pensa, born in 1940 and a retired greengrocer from a tiny village of just 53 residents near Genoa, claimed first place at the 11th World Championship of Genovese pesto made with a mortar. She outperformed 100 competitors from around the world, earning unanimous support from a panel of 30 judges.
The competition, held in Genoa, brought together amateur and professional participants who were all required to use the same seven traditional ingredients – including DOP Genovese basil, Italian pine nuts, Vessalico garlic, Ligurian extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, and sea salt.
Judges evaluated each pesto based on five criteria: technique, texture, consistency, color, and overall balance of flavors. After an intense selection process, only 10 finalists advanced to the last round. Pensa’s version stood out for its harmony and precision, ultimately earning her the top honor and the symbolic “golden pestle.”
Her victory is even more remarkable considering she was added to the list of 100 participants at the last minute. Despite this late entry, she managed to outperform the entire field, demonstrating decades of hands-on experience and a deep connection to Ligurian culinary traditions.
The result highlights the enduring value of traditional methods. Unlike modern shortcuts, all competitors prepared their pesto entirely by hand using a marble mortar and wooden pestle, preserving a technique that dates back centuries.
Pensa’s win quickly captured attention across Italy, symbolizing not only personal achievement but also the strength of local culture. At 85, she showed that skill does not fade with age – it evolves. In a competition where precision can make a difference of just a few %, her performance set a new standard and reinforced Genoa’s reputation as the true home of authentic pesto.
