54° Sagra delle quaquare

In the heart of Piedmont, the village of Genola proudly preserves a confectionery tradition with roots in centuries past: the making of the Quaquare, crumbly and fragrant biscuits that represent the gastronomic soul of the town. These sweets, with their characteristic heart or horseshoe shape, owe their name to the dialect term “quaquara”, meaning “cockchafer”, the beetle whose outline resembles that of the biscuits. Every year, in the month of May, at the same time as the patron saint festival of San Marziano, Genola celebrates the Sagra delle Quaquare, an event that involves the entire community. During this period, local families devote themselves with passion to preparing the dough, following secret recipes handed down from generation to generation. The main ingredients are simple and genuine: flour, butter, sugar, eggs and lemon zest, with the addition, in some variations, of almonds or finely chopped peach stones, which give the biscuits a unique aroma. The culminating moment of the festival is the baking of the Quaquare in the municipal oven, a place symbol of sharing and community. Managed by volunteers, the oven opens its doors