Acini di Pepe

Acini di pepe

Acini di pepe is a type of pasta. Acini is the plural of acino whose root is the Latin word acinus. In both Latin and Italian, the word means 'grape' or 'grape-stones', with the "stones of a grape" being the seeds of the grape. Acini di pepe then translates into 'seeds of a pepper'. It was and is known as a symbol of fertility, which is why it is used in Italian wedding soup. It is also sometimes referred to as pastina ; however, some pasta makers distinguish pastina as smaller than acini di pepe. The individual pieces usually resemble tiny cylinders about 1 mm, or less, in each dimension.

Acinus

An acinus refers to any cluster of cells that resembles a many-lobed "berry", such as a raspberry. The berry-shaped termination of an exocrine gland, where the secretion is produced, is acinar in form, as is the alveolar sac containing multiple alveoli in the lungs.

Pepe

Pepe is a pet form of the Spanish and Portuguese name José (Joseph). In the Brazilian context, it is used as a nickname for Pedro (Peter). It is also a surname and a male name.

acini di pepe

Noun

1. pasta in very small pieces