Avena

This cereal belongs to the same family as wheat, but has a very different function in Italian cooking. Oats are mainly grown in areas with good rainfall due to the fact that, like rice, it needs a lot of water to grow. In Italy, it is mostly grown in Naples and Puglia, and is mostly used as feed for animals. It is, however, also ground into oatmeal, a popular food for young children, and is used flaked in porridge. Oats are widely recognized as having good health-giving properties.