Panettone is loved around the world and most often enjoyed during the Christmas period. The sweet, dome-shaped bread has an airy, brioche-like texture and is usually filled with candied citrus fruits and raisins.
But who makes the best panettone? While the bread originates from Milan, Italy, it was a team of Taiwanese bakers who claimed the world title in the 2025 Panettone World Championship. The team was led by Giovanna Chen Shih-chieh – crowned “the new panettone queen” by the competition – who started as a self-taught baker.
Chen credits the win to her teammates and attributes her own success to an unstructured childhood rather than a lifelong fascination with baking.
The team of Taiwanese bakers, led by Giovanna Chen Shih-chieh (second from right), celebrate after winning the 2025 Panettone World Championship in Milan, Italy, in October 2025. Photo: courtesy of Giovanna Chen
“Both my parents worked,” Chen recounts. “I understood from a young age that they needed to earn money first for us to have a better life. While they didn’t have a lot of time to spend with me, that meant I had a lot of free time and was by myself.
“I really have to thank my parents for never pushing me to perform academically. They said: ‘Being the best at school doesn’t mean you’ll have a better life, don’t be the last but just be in the middle, then you’ll be fine.’”
This lack of pressure allowed Chen the freedom to pursue her interests. While her friends shied away from school-related topics, Chen took a keen interest in English and pursued it as an extracurricular activity.
“My mother was very supportive of whatever interests I took up, so I went to English classes after school,” the baker recalls. “When I got to high school, I really wanted to put what I learned into practice and asked my parents to sign me up for a student exchange programme.”
Dining and Cooking