Have you ever wondered about the origins of the humble breadstick, or grissino, as it’s known in Italy? This slender, crunchy bread, a staple on Italian tables and beyond, has a pretty curious history.

It all begins in the 17th century, in the city of Turin, in Piedmont, where young prince Vittorio Amedeo II, known for his frail constitution and sensitive stomach, struggled to digest the crumb of regular bread.