Bresaola and spices, such as juniper berries, cinnamon and nutmeg. They are then left to cure for a few days. A drying period of between one and three months follows, depending on the weight of the particular bresaola. The meat loses up to 40% of its original weight during aging. In Valtellina, a similar process is applied to smaller pieces of meat. This produces a more strongly flavoured product, "slinzega", which is similar to South African "biltong". Traditionally, horse meat was used for "slinzega", but now other meats, such as venison and pork, are used, as well. As an antipasto, bresaola
Salt-cured meat reduce the concentration of salt required. Salted meat and fish are a staple of the diet in North Africa, Southern China, Scandinavia, coastal Russia, and in the Arctic. Salted meat was a staple of the mariner's diet in the Age of Sail. It was stored in barrels, and often had to last for months spent out of sight of land. The basic Royal Navy diet consisted of salted beef, salted pork, ship's biscuit, and oatmeal, supplemented with smaller quantities of peas, cheese and butter. Even in 1938, Eric Newby found the diet on the tall ship "Moshulu" to consist almost