Coming from the word “cicerchie”, which are grass peas (chickpea-like legumes); these little pastries are eaten around the time of carnival in February. The pastry has ancient origins from the Umbria region.
Instead of expensive sugar, the people of the land used what was available to them, the raw materials of the land, including honey and nuts.
In my family, they are offered at the table with coffee and good conversation. Instead of a round wreath, my nonna serves them in little mounds, thus, “pile of grass peas”.