TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four Taiwanese bakers won first place and were recognized in four categories at this year’s Panettone World Championship, an international contest focused on the Italian Christmas dessert.

Held in October in Milan, the event drew teams from 12 countries, including Argentina, Australia, China, Spain, and Japan. The Taiwan team won first place in classic, chocolate, mini cake, and craftsmanship categories, per CNA.

Giovana Chen (陳詩絜), founder of the Italian food distributor I Love Italy, led three Taiwanese bakers to the competition. She said it marks the first time Taiwanese participants have won at the event, making Taiwan the first Asian country to claim the championship.

The team worked collaboratively, with each baker assigned tasks based on their expertise. Chen said the contest required dough to be kept at 27 C and yeast to be fed and fermented for up to three days, with adjustments made for temperature and humidity. 

Tsai Yueh-chun (蔡約群), a team member and head baker at Feeling 18 in Nantou, said most of the team’s bakers lacked experience with the Italian Christmas dessert, making it challenging to master flavor and dough ratios in early trials. In response, the team spent more than 12 days in intensive training ahead of the competition.

Tsai added that every stage of production — from mixing and adding ingredients to shaping, fermentation timing, and baking temperature — must be precisely controlled, as even minor errors can affect the final flavor.

Lin Tsan-nan (林讚南), head of Taiwan’s Milan office, joined overseas Taiwanese in cheering on the team and conveyed President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) recognition of Taiwan’s baking expertise.