Panettone: The Hot Item This Coming Season!

Italian Panettone, Mussini Style

Note: Mussini Panettone will now be only available on a special order basis only. Minimum amount required will be a pallet's worth. Please contact us directly if interested.

Have you heard about panettone? Unless you are knowledgeable about gourmet foods or Italian cuisine, you probably may not have heard about this gem....and that's where this blog post comes in! The Gourmet Import Shop is going to be importing this directly from our Italian supplier, Mussini, in preparation for the holiday season this year. Read on to learn more about Mussini, the history of panettone, and more down below.

Who is Mussini?

Mussini is an Italian manufacturer who produces true, authentic balsamic vinegars and glazes that we carry. The Mussini family has been making Balsamic Vinegar of Modena since 1909. During that year, the first three barrels were placed in the attic of the first vinegar-making facilities of Magreta. Today, after 100 years, they are still making the same precious balsamic vinegar in accordance to the traditional methods that have been handed down from father to son, but in modern, certified facilities that are located on the Lowland close to the Apennines, at Margreta, just a few miles from the Ferrari factory. The wide range of products from the Mussini line are an expression of the joy that is typical of the Italian way of life and of the passion for excellent food and "eating well". A centuries-old tradition and the quality of unique products make Mussini an atelier of culinary art.

What is a Panettone?

Full panettone cake

Panettone (pronounced pa-neh-tone-neh) is a traditional Italian sweet bread that is prepared & enjoyed by many European countries during Christmas and New Years. It's somewhat similar to the old classic fruit cake tradition for America back in the day. The panettone was originally from the Italian city of Milan and has earned the recognition of being a symbol of the city. The literal translation of panettone is derived from the Italian word "panetto", meaning small cake loaf, and the suffix of -one attached to it changes the meaning to "large cake loaf". It is thought that panettone's origin comes from way back in the age of the Roman Empire and is even supposedly often seen in a certain 16th century painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder as well as being in a recipe book from a personal chef to the popes and emperors during the reign of Charles V.  The process of making panettone is a long one as it takes several days. The curing of dough, similar to how sour dough is made, in itself is a long process along with the proofing which takes several days. The proofing process gives its characteristic shape and fluffiness as seen in the pictures. Our version of the panettone includes a special twist as it uses Mussini's balsamic glaze reduced from a Balsamic of Modena IGP giving it the perfect balance of sweet and sourness.

Some Background History

In the early 20th century there were two bakers from Milan who were striving to make large quantities of panettone for Italy. The names of those bakers were Angelo Motta & Gioacchino Alemagna. The competition between these two brands was big enough to lead the cake into an industrial production level. Later in the 1990s, Nestle (yes, that Nestle) took over both brands...which in turn was taken over by an Italian bakery company called Bauli later on. This brought back the Motta and Alemagna brand name back into Italian hands. Because of the fierce competition of the popular bread, panettone was inexpensive for anyone to buy and became the leading Christmas sweet by the end of World War II.

When To Get Panettone

As mentioned earlier, panettone is traditionally enjoyed during Christmas and New Years in not only Italy but other countries in Europe. To meet the obvious high demand of this Italian sweet bread, Mussini will start production in late August. So to answer the question of when to buy it.....NOW would be the perfect time! We are opening up preorders ahead of production time so that we can meet the high demands of this long awaited product. You can easily place your order ahead of time by heading over to the panettone section of our retail website by clicking here. Please keep in mind that  there's a limited quantity that will be produced. Don't wait until the last minute to order as we cannot guarantee we will have enough once the holiday rush hits!

And of course, don't forget to check our other 10+ international brands, including Mussini, at our Gourmet Import Shop website.