Cucchitella di Sciacca: a Sicilian traditional pastry becomes a PAT

A small pastry that tells the story of Sciacca

Sciacca is a town filled with the scents and flavours of the Mediterranean.

It is known for its sea, fishing tradition, ceramics, Carnival and a cuisine in which Sicilian ingredients and traditions continue to play an essential role.

Alongside its better-known specialities, however, there is a heritage of local recipes waiting to be discovered.

One of them is the Cucchitella di Sciacca, instantly recognisable for its characteristic shape and rich, aromatic flavour.

Almond and pistachio, two ingredients closely associated with Sicilian pastry-making, contribute to its distinctive character.

Cucchitelle can be enjoyed with a delicate white glaze or in a more traditional version finished with powdered sugar.

Two interpretations of the same speciality, both with a deliciously rich heart.

From 2022 to PAT recognition: Kevin Lo Monaco's perseverance

Behind the recognition of the Cucchitella is also a story of determination, commitment to local heritage and belief in the value of tradition.

An important role in this journey was played by Kevin Lo Monaco, marketing manager of his family's pastry business, who strongly believed in the potential of the Cucchitella and in its ability to become an authentic gastronomic symbol of Sciacca.

In 2022, Kevin Lo Monaco began the process to obtain official recognition, pursuing the project with perseverance over the following years with the aim of promoting and preserving this local speciality.

That journey reached an important milestone in 2026.

The Cucchitella di Sciacca was officially included among Sicily's Traditional Agri-Food Products (PAT).

The achievement extends beyond the family pastry business.

It represents an opportunity to promote Sciacca, its pastry shops, its gastronomic culture and its territory, while offering visitors another authentic way to discover the town through food.

Behind this small pastry, therefore, there is also the story of someone who believed in his local tradition and worked to ensure that it could be officially recognised and shared with a wider audience.

What does PAT mean?

PAT stands for Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale, or Traditional Agri-Food Product.

The designation identifies foods connected with Italy's regional gastronomic heritage and with preparation, processing or preservation methods established through tradition.

PAT should not be confused with the European PDO (DOP) and PGI (IGP) quality schemes. They are different forms of recognition, although each contributes in its own way to highlighting the importance of food traditions and their connection with a particular territory.

For Sciacca, the recognition of the Cucchitella adds another important element to an already rich gastronomic heritage.

Almond and pistachio: flavours that speak of Sicily

Sicilian pastry-making has always had a special relationship with nuts.

Almonds and pistachios feature in countless recipes throughout the island, and in the Cucchitella they help create the combination of sweetness, aroma and texture that gives this pastry its distinctive personality.

These are flavours capable of evoking Sicily from the very first bite.

And this strong connection with the island is exactly what made us at Ciauru fall in love with the Cucchitella.

Glazed or powdered sugar?

There is one inevitable question:

Which one should you choose?

The glazed Cucchitella has an elegant, indulgent appearance, with its distinctive white coating creating a delicious contrast with the centre.

The powdered sugar version has a simpler, more traditional appearance that allows the pastry itself to take centre stage.

At Ciauru, we decided not to choose.

We offer both.

From a Sciacca pastry shop to tables beyond Sicily

Ciauru was created with a clear mission: to discover products capable of telling Sicily's story through flavour and bring them to people who love this island, even when they are hundreds or thousands of kilometres away.

This is why we decided to add Cucchitelle di Sciacca PAT to our selection.

We did not simply want another sweet product in our catalogue.

We wanted to add a little piece of Sciacca.

The Cucchitelle selected by Ciauru are available in two varieties:

Glazed
Powdered Sugar

and in two sizes:

500 g
1 kg

They are perfect for sharing after a meal, enjoying with a good coffee or pairing with a Sicilian dessert wine.

They can also become an original and elegant Sicilian gourmet gift.

A special taste for Christmas

During the festive season, we love bringing products to the table that have a genuine story behind them.

For this reason, Cucchitelle are also a natural addition to the Ciauru selection for Christmas 2026.

Alongside artisan panettone, pistachios, almonds, honey, chocolate, preserves and Sicilian wines, they can become an unexpected treat inside a gift box dedicated to the flavours of our island.

An alternative to more familiar Christmas sweets and, above all, an opportunity to give someone something that genuinely comes from the territory.

A small pastry with a great Sicilian story

Every town in Sicily preserves recipes, ingredients and traditions that sometimes remain little known just a few kilometres beyond the place where they originated.

Part of our work is precisely this:

to find them, select them and tell their stories.

The Cucchitella takes us to Sciacca.

A Mediterranean town, a pastry-making tradition worth discovering and a small sweet that, thanks also to the perseverance of those who believed in its value, can now tell its story far beyond the boundaries of the town where it was born.

Because Sicily is not simply a place.

It is a collection of aromas, flavours, people and stories.

And that is exactly what we want you to discover.

Ciauru – The Taste of Sicily.