Finocchiona

thumb| Finocchiona () is a salami variety, typical of Florence, Italy. It is characterized by the use of fennel.

==Origins== originated in the Renaissance, and possibly even before, in the Late Middle Ages. The use of fennel was an alternative to pepper (a key ingredient of the standard salami), which was very expensive at the time, while fennel grew wild and abundant in the Tuscan countryside. Also, fennel is rich in menthol, and because of its anesthetic qualities, was regularly offered by the winemakers of the Chianti area to their customers before tasting their lower quality wines to mask their taste. Its name derives from , the Italian name for fennel.