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PIZZA

‘Pizza makes me happy’: More than half of Italians say pizza is their favourite food

52 percent of people surveyed said pizza was their favourite dish, with 39 percent saying it satisfied them “on an emotional level.”

Published: 11 December 2018 16:27 CET
'Pizza makes me happy': More than half of Italians say pizza is their favourite food
Photo: DepositPhotos

It’s difficult to find people who don’t like pizza. And here in Italy, pizza-haters are so rare they’re almost mythical.

But the full extent of the country’s love for pizza has been revealed in a study by the Osservatorio Buitoni Culinary Lab, who surveyed some 2,500 Italians aged 20-55, Italian media reports.

52 percent said they ate pizza “at least once a week” and 34 percent said they gave in to the temptation to eat pizza “whenever they wanted.”

Most people said they enjoyed sharing, and ten percent said they often have pizza for Sunday lunch. But only four percent said they’d eat pizza every single day.

Proscuitto e funghi, or ham and mushroom, was the most popular pizza topping chosen by 32 percent of people surveyed. A classic margherita was the preferred choice of 27 percent, while 34 percent prefer their pizza piled high with different toppings.

Photo: Depositphotos.

But of course, not all pizza is created equal. And the survey shows that Italians are, to absolutely no-one’s surprise, extremely fussy about their pizza.

42 percent say they’ll only eat pizza with a ‘very thin’ crust, while 12 percent prefer a thicker base – as long as the dough is well risen. Three Italians out of 10 (33 percent), on the other hand, consider the typical thick Neapolitan crust to be fundamental.

42 percent prefer to eat at a pizzeria, while 39 percent would rather order delivery and 12 percent get takeout.

Apart from the taste, respondents said they loved pizza because it’s cheap, portable and satisfying. 

One Italian in ten said pizza made them feel happy.

And there may be a scientific explanation for pizza’s huge popularity in Italy and beyond.

The combination of pizza's ingredients “seem to be especially rewarding and do not occur together in foods found in nature … and this may contribute to its association with addictive-like eating behaviours,” said to Erica M. Schulte, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Michigan, who authored a study on food addiction which ranked pizza as the food “most associated with symptoms of addiction.”

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FOOD AND DRINK

Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

As well as its most famous cocktails, Italy has a long tradition of making refreshing aperitivo drinks without the alcohol.

Published: 11 April 2024 12:01 CEST
Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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