Tiramisù is one of the most famous Italian desserts. This dessert is typically made of eggs, sugar, savoiardi– a kind of ladyfingers-, mascarpone cheese, coffee, and cocoa powder. However, as with most recipes, these ingredients vary somehow depending on the area in which it is made. It is also worth mentioning that coffee is known as a symbol of strength and cocoa as a symbol of virility.

Tiramisù

Tiramisù from my trip to Rome

At this point, you might be asking yourself, what has all these to do with the name’s origin. So, let’s talk about the legend behind the name tiramisù!

The word tiramisù comes originally from the Venetian dialect, tiramesù, although some years later, this form was Italianised into tiramisù, which translates into “pick me up” or “pull me up”.

For a long time, this dessert was consumed as a mood-heightening dessert, both for its high calorie count and the restoring power of its ingredients, which give plenty of energy to whomever eats it. Now the name tiramisù seems to make more sense, right?

However, it is also known as the love dessert. And why is that?

Legend has it that tiramisù has its origins in Treviso’s brothels, in Venice.
Aphrodisiac properties were attributed to some of its ingredients. Therefore, the brothel-keeper would offer it to the patrons, stating that it would provide them with lots of energy. As a result, this dessert became very popular amongst the various gentlemen who, after a long night, arrived at brothels to spend the night and enjoy some romance with the ladies.

Nonetheless, this is just one of the many legends around the origins of this dessert. It is also said that tiramisù has its origins in the 17th century, when it was created as an energetic dessert to give strength to soldiers during wartimes. Hence, its meaning of “pick me up” would also make sense.