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May 2024 VII MAGAZINE AT PAGE 24 DID YOU KNOW? Italians increasingly like exotic desserts FROM THE CREAMINESS OF DULCE DE LECHE TO THE ORIGINAL TASTE OF JAPANESE TRADITION: SUMUP ANALYSED NEW TRENDS IN CONFECTIONERY TO DISCOVER THE EXOTIC FLAVOURS MOST APPRECIATED BY ITALIANS Desserts have always been an important part of Italian culture, but in recent years a real revolution has been taking place. Confectioners are gradually becoming digitised - the café and restaurant sector, to which they belong, recorded +41.5% cashless payments during 2023 - and are opening up to new flavours and traditions from all over the world. From the creamy dulce de leche originating in Argentina to the colourful Japanese mochi, on to the most imaginative Chinese moon cakes: international desserts are conquering Italian palates, for those who are increasingly curious and in search of new taste experiences. Exploring the fastest-growing international confectionary trends in the choices of Italians is SumUp, a fintech company active in the digital payments sector with innovative solutions for businesses of all sizes, which has discovered which ones are gaining a foothold in confectioners in Italy. The analysis shows that an average of more than 33,000 searches per month are recorded during the year for Japanese dorayaki: in particular, in the first quarter of 2024 this number rose from 22,000 in January to almost 50,000 at the end of March. Similarly, searches for mochi (33,000 on average per month) rose from 40,000 in January to over 60,000 at the end of March. Interest in baklava, traditional Balkan and Middle Eastern desserts, was also on the rise (27,000/month), with the search volume rising from 27,100 in January to almost 40,500 at the end of March, and for dulche de leche (15,000 searches/month during the year), which rose from 12,100 to 22,200 online searches in the first quarter of 2024, including recipes and places to try it. “New culinary traditions are being added to historical ones, broadening horizons and offering consumers a variety of flavours and experiences never seen before,” said Umberto Zola, SumUp’s EU Online Sales Manager . “It is crucial for exhibitors to intercept consumer trends in order to respond to new user needs. Our mission is to support Italian confectioners in this evolution process, helping them to reach new customers and increase their business”. FROM JAPANESE DORAYAKI TO TURKISH BAKLAVA A curious itinerary - from the land of the Rising Sun to Argentina, to the nearest, Morocco - comprising eight desserts from all over the world that have delighted the hearts, but above all the palates, of Italians. FLUFFY PANCAKES, DORAYAKI AND MOCHI, JAPANESE SWEETNESS CONQUERING ITALY Japan’s rich culinary tradition has not only given the West the gift of sushi. For dessert lovers, there is something for everyone. In addition to fluffy or fuwa fuwa pancakes , which are particularly soft and light thanks to the use of a special dough and a baking technique that involves whipping egg whites until stiff, there are also the well-known dorayaki . In Japanese, ‘dora’ means gong: the musical instrument has given its name to these soft golden pancakes made of flour, eggs and sugar, combined with honey and water that enclose a filling of anko , a sweet bean cream. But it is mochi, above all, that has conquered the Italians. The small bites of glutinous cake made from rice flour are traditionally eaten during important celebrations, including the Japanese New Year. Their texture and the wide range of flavours available, including modern variants such as chocolate and fruit, ensure they are loved by many people. NOT JUST A CAKE: THE PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE OF CHINESE MOON CAKES Linked to the ancient legend of ‘Chang’e flies to the moon’, moon cakes are traditional Chinese puff pastry cakes. They are eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, which commemorates the one night of the year when the archer Houyi can join his wife on the moon. Moon cakes, with their filling of hard-boiled egg yolk and lotus seed or sweet bean paste, represent the full moon dominating the sky and symbolise the union between the two lovers. A cake rich in meaning whose popularity has grown in Italy, along with the increasing interest in oriental culture. BAKLAVA IS A TASTE OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE BALKANS Baklava is a typical dessert of Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisine: its roots, which go back to the Ottoman Empire, seem to intertwine between Turkey, Greece and Armenia. It is a rich dessert, much loved all over the world for its combination of crispness, sweetness and spicy flavours. It is characterised by layers of phyllo dough alternating with layers of chopped walnuts or pistachios and seasoned with sugar syrup or honey. MAGHREB CONFECTIONERY TRADITION WITH KAAB EL GHAZAL AND CHEBAKIA Kaab el ghazal is believed to have originated in Moroccan royal kitchens