Taste & Fillings
When you cut into a panettone the aroma should immediately hit you, however, when purchasing you may even notice a beautiful aroma coming from the package – which is a good sign of a fresh panettone! Fillings are another way to help decide on which panettone to take home to enjoy. While there are endless flavours to choose from, you’ll find higher quality panettone include sicilian lemon, pistachios, cocoa nibs, Amarena cherries and salted caramel or dark chocolate icing.
Where the Panettone Is Made
Some artisan brands of panettone are crafted in Milan by bakers using a ‘mother yeast,’ just like those used when baking sourdough bread. The mother yeast for some artisans dates back to the 1930’s and it gives each panettone its unique flavour. And, because of this process you’ll find the Italian-made panettone can be more expensive than those made in other parts of the world.
Range in Prices
The range in prices of panettone really depends on the quality of the ingredients used. A panettone where butter, nuts and high-end chocolate are used would be more expensive than one with ingredients such as margarine and dried fruit. It will depend on your personal taste in ingredients and your budget which panettone you end up buying.
You’ll also find there are now gluten-free options and while many are boxed, some are quite beautifully wrapped so they make a lovely gifting option!