Excellent cream and dough. A pity about the almond note.

A staple on Italian tables, panettone is now one of the main symbols of Christmas. Among the infinite variations, the delicious pistachio panettone is a must, but navigating the numerous artisanal and supermarket options is not easy at all.

Among the many artisanal offerings you can find in the cafes of Catania is the artisanal pistachio panettone produced and sold by "Caffè Epoca", in Catania, which goes by the name of "Gran Reale al Pistacchio".

The packaging is very elegant, with its "total black" look, broken up by a simple green ribbon and the Caffè Epoca logo embossed in gold, giving the product a sense of undoubted prestige.

The appearance of the panettone is truly beautiful, with excellent leavening and a perfectly crafted topping. This topping is truly delicious, packed with chopped pistachios and whole pistachios, both very crunchy and tasty.

The dough has a very good flavor, appearing very soft and slightly aromatic. It will undoubtedly please those who love such aromas (including orange), which are very well balanced. Some slices had slightly overcooked spots, but nothing serious, and it is something that can happen in an artisanal product.

The pistachio cream inside, although it looks like a typical pistachio spread, actually has a "fluffier" texture and also feels "fresher and lighter" on the palate. It is particularly striking that it reminisces the sensation of eating pistachio granita, probably due to its freshness and consistency. The pistachio taste of this cream is truly excellent, although in its "uniqueness", it is a pity about the almond note which, while not listed among the ingredients, is certainly part of the various aromas added to the panettone and the cream.

Ultimately, this is an excellent product that stands out from most of the others we have tried, due to the aromas and the texture of the cream, differences that can obviously be appreciated by some and not by others. Given the pistachio flavor of both the topping and the cream, it deserves a rating of 8/10, even though we were sorry to find the almond aroma (which we hope can be eliminated next year).