Also called africanet or Margherita biscuits, they are yellow lingot-shaped biscuits obtained, a sort of meringue cookies. The biscuits are hollow inside, the outer surface friable and internal softer. When the baking is finished, biscuits result friable outside and soft inside.

In 1872 Francesco Bagnoli opened a biscuit factory which received raves from the Royal Family for the Africanetti recipe. The biscuits which were named after the African continent where they were exported.

Among their leased fans were also the Duke of Genoa, the Count of Turin, the Duke of Bergamo, Antonio d'Orléans, Duke of Galliera and the Royal House of Montenegro.

Emilia Rusticelli, also known as Mimì, overtook the business and ran the Bakery and Coffee Shop with her own name, from the Thirties to the Eighties. Nowadays, although the factory in San Giovanni is closed, Africanetti are still produced.