Panettone in Brazil

With respect to heritage and an eye on the future, Brazil makes panettone its own

Traditional panettone is studded with dried fruit—but Brazilian producers have also taken a few creative liberties. Courtesy of Ofner

I adore a good love story. And cereal-based foods. Rarely do the two intertwine and become a $56 million-a-year worldwide export.

Legend has it that in 15th-century Italy, a well-to-do young man fell hopelessly in love with a beautiful plebeian, the daughter of a Milanese baker named Toni. Because Toni didn’t approve of their relationship, the bold youngster took a job at the bakery as an assistant to prove his loyalty. Soon thereafter, he created a sweet bread laced with candied fruit, different from anything the bakery sold.