Ricciarelli are a typical Sienese dessert made with almonds, sugar and egg white. Born in the fourteenth century in the Tuscan courts, following ancient oriental origins, variants enriched with chocolate and other ingredients have then evolved. Legend has it that it was the knight Ricciardetto della Gherardesca who introduced these sweets, on the return of the crusades, in his castle near Volterra. They are appreciated today above all as Christmas sweets, and are consumed with sweet and dessert wines such as Vin Santo Toscano or with Moscati.
It is the first confectionery product for Italy to have European protection. In March 2010, the Ricciarelli di Siena denomination was recognized as a PGI (protected geographical indication).