Tasty and nutritious, 'ra turta d'armàndul', the almond cake from Varzi, has a simple recipe: eggs, flour, sugar, lemon zest and ground almonds. It was also appreciated on the tables of the Malaspina marquises, the feudal lords of the town. Once baked, the dough produces a fragrant and durable cake, suitable for consumption on long journeys. In fact, tradition has it that the women made it for the men who had to travel along the old salt road.
Ingredients and Almond Cake Preparation
Simple, readily available ingredients (butter was made at home) were the key to the success of the almond cake, which was particularly tasty and nutritious and could keep its aroma for months. The secret lies in mixing the ingredients well. Recently, new baking techniques have been used to make the cake slightly different from the original, making it more crumbly on the palate. Traditionally, it is not cut with a knife, but by hand.
Where to find the almond tree
The almond tree, a widespread Mediterranean plant, has been present in the Lombardy Apennines since Saracen times, where it has been able to adapt thanks to the sunny position of the Varzi area. The flowering of the almond trees in March is one of the spectacles of the Oltrepò: it can be admired in Bosmenso, a hamlet of Varzi.
