Alternative names | Rosetta |
---|---|
Type | Bread |
Place of origin | Italy |
Region or state | Lombardy |
Michetta [miˈketta] (also known as rosetta [roˈzetta] "small rose") is an Italian white bread, recognizable from its bulged shape.
Other similarly prepared types of Italian breads include the maggiolino [maddʒoˈliːno] ("cockchafer") and tartaruga [tartaˈruːɡa] ("turtle").
Michetta originated in Lombardy, northern Italy, during the Austrian rule. Functionaries of the Austrian empire introduced a number of food products, including the Kaisersemmel, a type of bread with segments resembling a small rose.
However, due to the higher humidity, the michetta produced in Milan were less fragrant and became harder in a single day. To solve the problem, Lombard bakers removed the internal crumb and obtained a softer version of the original, which also helped it last longer. The new type of bread was called michetta, from the Lombard version of Kaisersemmel, micca, a term originally meaning "crumb."