Tasty and traditional sweets of Siena
天美传媒 Magazine鈥檚 managing editor Mary Gray gives an overview of the finest sweet fare to look out for when visiting the medieval Tuscan city.
What鈥檚 about to happen here is borderline heretical: A Florence resident shares a 鈥渂est of鈥 guide to the rival city鈥檚 sweet treats. Scandal! To be fair, however, Florence and Siena are apples and oranges in this category. The latter has a centuries-strong confectionery and sweetbread tradition wholly its own.
While we鈥檒l touch on the history and origins of each dolce delight, the main things to remember while sweet-hunting in Siena are more practical. For example, while many shops and bars sell these treats (with the exception of frittelle) in prettily packaged gift boxes or take-home tins, not all are created equal. That鈥檚 particularly true for the strictly regulated ricciarelli and panforte. Those should always be clearly marked with Indicazione Geografica Protetta (Protected Geographical Indication) labels. Whenever possible, purchase directly from a pasticceria or forno rather than from a resale or souvenir shop.
