Panforte
panforte chewy italian dessert containing fruit nut similar florentine much thicker little like lebkuchen known throughout italy italian christmas tradition associated especially province siena panforte date back least th century italian region tuscany document conserved state archive siena attest bread flavored pepper honey pane melati et pepati paid local monk nun monastery montecellesi modern monte celso near fontebecci tax tithe due february year literally panforte mean strong bread derived latin fortis refers spicy flavour originally sienese called panpepato peppered bread due strong pepper used original dessert composed wheat flour honey spice dried fig jam pine nut flavored pepper process making panforte fairly simple sugar dissolved honey various nut fruit spice mixed together flour baked shallow pan finished disc dusted icing sugar commercially produced panforte often band rice paper around edge many shop italy produce panforte recipe jealously guarded interpretation original confection packaged distinctive wrapping usually small wedge served coffee dessert wine meal although enjoy coffee breakfast siena—which regarded many inhabitant city panforte capital italy—it sometimes said panforte properly contain seventeen different ingredient seventeen number contrade ward within city wall panforte received protected geographical indication pgi status list italian dessert pastry panpepato panforte di siena—history