Italian Bomboniere

Bomboniere (Italian) also known as "favors", are gifts given out on special occasions, such as a wedding, to the guests.

They usually come with Jordan almonds, known in Italian as Confetti. Five sugared almonds, which for wedding, symbolise health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life.

Bomboniere can be made in many forms using several different ingredients.

Sugared almonds are put inside a bag made of tulle or satin and tied with ribbons in assorted colors.

The colour of sugared almonds is white for a wedding, First Communion or Confirmation; pink or light-blue for birthday or Baptism of a baby girl or baby boy, respectively, red for a graduation, and silver or gold for 25 or 50 year anniversaries.

Often they are adorned with dried natural flowers or artificial flowers made of silk or paper. The bag is often given stored inside a small vessel made of silver, crystal or porcelain.

Torta Bomboniera

A different and new type of bomboniera is the Favor Cake or "Torta Bomboniera" as it is called in Italy. They are made using little carton box forming one or more tier of a "cake".

Inside each box there are the sugared almonds and a card printed with the data of ceremony (names, date etc.). On each box there are glued several types of fine objects made of many materials.

Evolution of "Torta Bomboniera" to "Pasticceria Artigianale in Porcellana" (Porcelain Artisan Pastries)

The following type of Italian Favor Cake is an evolution of above types.

It is made using porcelain boxes shaped and hand decorated like very real edible "bignè" or cream puff.

Inside each box there are five sugared almonds and a card printed with data of ceremony.

For this reasons, the name that Italians give to this new idea is "Pasticceria Artigianale in Porcellana", that is Porcelain Artisan Pastries

Jordan almonds, also known as sugared almonds or confetti, are a type of confectionery consisting of almonds covered with a candy coating in various colors, originating from Italy and particularly typical of the town of Sulmona.

The term 'Jordan Almonds' (according to Webster's New International Dictionary) came from the French word 'jardin,' meaning 'garden,' 'hence, a cultivated almond'. Another source of information indicated that at one time the term referred to a variety of almonds originally grown along the Jordan River characterized by long, thin, slender, rather smooth kernels in thick, heavy shells.

A classic form of dragée, they are often used as wedding favors due to the "bitter" almonds and the "sweet" sugar representing bittersweet married life.

The treats are often packaged in groups of five per guest, accompanied by a traditional poem:

Five sugared almonds for each guest to eat

To remind us that life is both bitter and sweet.

Five wishes for the new husband and wife --

Health, wealth, happiness, children, and a long life!

Jordan almonds commonly come in pastel, spring-themed colors such as lilac, pale yellow, light blue, light green, and white. The colors are traditionally associated with certain life events, such as white Jordan almonds for weddings, red Jordan almonds for graduations and yellow, pink or blue Jordan almonds for baby showers or baptisms.

More Bomboniere: www.morbideidee.com