Pancetta is a type of Italian Salumi or cured pork belly.
Pancetta is similar to bacon but has a stronger pork flavor than bacon.
Pancetta is made by curing pork belly with salt, spices and sugar and it can also include cloves, black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon.
The curing process of Pancetta preserves the meat and gives pancetta it's flavor.
The pancetta is cured using a dry rub or a brine and the meat is often rolled into a log form.
While bacon and pancetta are both cured pork belly.
Bacon however is brined and smoked while pancetta is flavored with herbs and aromatics, but not smoked.
Pancetta can be found in the deli section of the grocery store or near the bacon.
Pancetta is more expensive than bacon, because of it's curing process which is time-intensive.
The pancetta is typically soaked in salt brine for a few days before being seasoned with spices and herbs to infuse the meat with additional flavor, it is then aged for three weeks or longer.
The pancetta sometimes may be smoked but it is usually not.