Folha de S.Paulo organized a tasting of 70 panetones for Christmas 2025, selecting 34 recommended options across seven categories. Products range from R$ 14 to R$ 390 and include traditional, filled, and dietary restriction versions. Pistachio and hazelnut dominate, but Brazilian fruits like cashew and cupuaçu are gaining ground.
In a tasting organized by the Folha Prova section, journalists and experts evaluated 70 panetones sent by brands or purchased by the newspaper, recommending 34 for consumption or gifting at Christmas. Categories include traditional (7), supermarkets (4), filled (5), restaurants (3), chocolate chips (6), Brazilian fruits (3), and dietary restrictions like gluten-free, sugar-free, lactose-free, or vegan (6).
Jurors, such as gastronomy professor Maurício Marques Lopes Filho, pastry chef Brenda Freitas, and chef Carole Crema, assessed presentation, texture, and flavor, revealing brands only at the end. Common issues were spongy or dense textures and poorly distributed fillings, but highlights included filleted doughs and balanced aromas.
In the restrictions category, Biscoitê's sugar-free panetone surprised: "It has the right characteristics. Well filleted, chocolate well distributed," said Maurício Marques. For restaurants, Bráz Pizzaria's chocolate and orange version had "surprising softness," according to Carole Crema. Brazilian fruit versions, like Dengo's with cashew, praised fermentation, while pistachio-filled from Casa Santa Luzia highlighted artisanal flavors.
The tasting is not a ranking but a buying guide, similar to previous tests of olive oil and wines. Pistachio and hazelnut remain popular since 2024, but innovations with local fruits signal production shifts.
