Parona offelle biscuits

Offelle biscuits are a traditional, century old sweet speciality from the city of Parona, in the Lomellina area. The ingredients of soft wheat flour, butter, sugar, eggs, olive oil and yeast combine together in creating this product, unmistakable in its oval shape and pointed tips.

Offelle were invented by Pasqualina and Linìn Colli, two resourceful sisters from Parona, who created this speciality towards the end of the 19th century, without ever revealing its secret recipe. Offelle were so precious that they were initially made in limited quantities and sold only by number and not by weight.

They were prepared during the celebration of the Madonna del Rosario fair. During this special event, people would come from the neighbouring villages to taste the exquisite biscuit. Its big commercial launch began in 1969. Since then, the local tourist board has been protecting the product’s authenticity by means of a hallmark supplied to producers, thus replacing the ancient household ovens.

(Credits: www.buonoasapersipavia.it)