Sugar cane was introduced to Italy by the Moors who invaded Sicily in the 9C. It soon replaced honey as a sweetener as it imparted no flavour and was an important component in the sweet and sour dishes they liked so much.
Sicilian sugar was at its height in the 15C when huge fortunes were made from its exportation all over the country. In 1492 the Spanish rulers of the island ordered the expulsion of the Jews as part of the Inquisition and this loss of capital and skilled labour set the sugar industry into irreversible decline.
Despite this, the Sicilians have still manages to excel in the production of sweet pastries, biscuits and chocolates and are renowned for their sweet tooth. This is why we have sourced all the products in this section from Sicily...
