panforte
{{Short description|Dessert from Siena, Italy}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2024}}
{{Italics title}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Panforte
| image = Panforte.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Traditional style panforte
| alternate_name =
| country = Italy
| region = Tuscany
| creator =
| course =
| type = Confectionery
| served =
| main_ingredient = Nuts, honey, sugar, fruits, spices
| variations = Panpepato
}}
Panforte is a chewy Italian dessert containing fruit and nuts. It is similar to a Florentine but is much thicker and is a little like a lebkuchen. Known throughout Italy, it is an Italian Christmas tradition associated especially with the province of Siena.{{cite web |title=Panforte |website=epicurious |url=https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/panforte-107438}}
History
Panforte dates back to at least the 13th century, in the Italian region of Tuscany. Documents from 1205, conserved in the State Archive of Siena, attest that bread flavored with pepper and honey (panes melati et pepati) was paid to the local monks and nuns of the monastery of Montecellesi (modern Monte Celso, near Fontebecci) as a tax or tithe which was due on 7 February that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fioresiena.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Catalogo_Fiore_2016.pdf|title=Storia - History (Fiore di Siena)|access-date=2020-08-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.fabbricadelpanforte.com/immagini/brochure/storia.pdf|title=I dolci senesi tra storia e leggenda|access-date=2020-08-21}}{{cite book |date=1933 |title=Atti, volumi 1-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CDJHAAAAYAAJ&q=%22L%27origine+del+Panforte%22+%227+febbraio+1205%22 |publisher=Accademia dei fisiocritici in Siena. Sezione agraria}}
Literally, panforte means 'strong bread', derived from the Latin {{lang|la|fortis}},{{Cite web|url=https://www.pasticcerienannini.it/en/storia-dei-dolci/panforte-panpepato-i-dolci-antichi|title=I dolci più antichi: Panforte e Panpepato|access-date=2020-08-21|archive-date=2023-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102153557/https://www.pasticcerienannini.it/en/storia-dei-dolci/panforte-panpepato-i-dolci-antichi|url-status=dead}} which refers to the spicy flavour. Originally, the Sienese called it panpepato ('peppered bread'), due to the strong pepper used. The original dessert was composed of wheat flour, honey, spices, dried figs, jam and pine nuts and was flavored with pepper.{{Cite web|url=http://www.grupponannini.it/AspnetPages/Pasticcerie.aspx|title=Panforte e panpepato: i dolci più antichi|access-date=2020-08-21|archive-date=2023-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102153557/http://www.grupponannini.it/AspnetPages/Pasticcerie.aspx|url-status=dead}}
Production
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The process of making panforte is fairly simple. Sugar is dissolved in honey and various nuts, fruits and spices are mixed together with flour and baked in a shallow pan. The finished disc is dusted with icing sugar. Commercially produced panforte often have a band of rice paper around the edge.
Many shops in Italy produce panforte, each recipe being their own zealously guarded interpretation of the original confection and packaged in distinctive wrapping. Usually, a small wedge is served with coffee or a dessert wine after a meal, although some enjoy it with their coffee at breakfast.
In Siena—which is regarded by many, if not most inhabitants of that city, as the panforte capital of Italy—it is sometimes said that panforte should properly contain seventeen different ingredients, seventeen being the number of Contrade (wards) within the city walls.
Protected geographical indication
In 2013, panforte received the protected geographical indication (PGI) status.{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=2355&locale=en|title=Agriculture and Rural Development|access-date=2019-01-05}}
Image:panpepato-small.jpg|Panforte with chocolate
File:Panforte at a shop in San Gimignano.jpg|Panforte with marzipan at a shop in San Gimignano, Italy
See also
{{Portal|Italy|Food}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://whatscookingamerica.net/Cake/panforte.htm Panforte Di Siena]—history
{{Nut confections}}
Category:Italian products with protected designation of origin
{{Italy-dessert-stub}}