Panforte, the famous Sienese sweet, is found throughout Italy, especially during the Christmas holidays. It is made of various ingredients and flavours, knowledgeably combined and set on a thin wafer base.
Panforte is the best known of the Sienese spiced cakes, a gastronomic symbol of the city. The origins of this sweet are ancient and are traced back to the honeyed cakes prepared in the Middle Ages. In the beginning, panforte was kept as a wafer for church dignitaries, but early in the 18th century, also layman were given the opportunity to taste it. This sweet is made from a base of flour, almonds, dried fruit, candied fruit and spices and is generally consumed in small quantities.