The Margherita pizza was designed in 1889 to look like the Italian flag.

In June 1889, Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples. The Pizzeria Brandi was asked to make a special meal for her. Chef Raffaele Esposito made three pizzas, and the Queen chose the one with the flag colors as her favorite. A letter from the royal head of table services still exists at the pizzeria to prove this story.Traditional Neapolitan pizza follows very strict rules. It must be cooked in a wood-fired oven at temperatures between 806 and 896 degrees Fahrenheit. The pizza only stays in the oven for 60 to 90 seconds. This high heat creates charred bubbles on the crust called leopard spotting.The ingredients are also chosen for their chemistry. San Marzano tomatoes grow in volcanic soil and have a specific acidity that cuts through the fat of the cheese. The dough uses finely ground flour with a high protein content. This allows the dough to hold a lot of water, making the crust soft and stretchy instead of crunchy.These rules are protected by law in the European Union. A group called the AVPN was formed in 1984 to make sure people keep making the pizza the original way. They check the temperature, the ingredients, and even the pH levels of the sauce.