5 Euros Passito and Sicilian Cannolo

Part of Italy's ongoing "Flavours of Italy" collector series, this issue celebrates two Sicilian food traditions with Protected Designation of Origin status under EU law. The passito grape — dried to concentrate sugars before pressing — has been cultivated in the Sicilian islands, particularly Pantelleria, since at least Phoenician settlement. The cannolo's documented history runs to at least the Arab period of Sicilian rule, roughly 827–1072 AD, when sugar cane cultivation on the island made confectionery of this kind feasible for the first time.