Gianduja (chocolate)

Confection made of chocolate and hazelnut From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gianduja (chocolate)

Gianduja or gianduia[a] is a homogeneous blend of chocolate with 30% hazelnut paste, invented in Turin during Napoleon's regency (1796–1814). It can be consumed in the form of bars or as a filling for chocolates.

Quick Facts Type, Place of origin ...
Gianduja
Thumb
Gianduja bars
TypeChocolate
Place of originItaly
Region or stateTurin, Piedmont
Main ingredientsChocolate paste, hazelnut paste
Close

Gianduja is chocolate stretched with hazelnut butter. Similarly to standard chocolate, it is made in both plain and milk versions. It may also contain other nuts, such as almond.[2] As a bar, gianduja resembles normal chocolate, except for the fact that it is softer due to the presence of hazelnut oil,[3] which is liquid at room temperature unlike cocoa butter. However, like conventional chocolate, gianduja is usually tempered.[4]

Chocolate hazelnut spreads are also notably inspired from gianduja. They tend to use, however, other ingredients, typically cocoa powder and vegetable oils rather than cocoa butter-based chocolate.

History

The Continental System, imposed by Napoleon in 1806, prevented British goods from entering European ports under French control, putting a strain on cocoa supplies.[5] A chocolatier in Turin named Michele Prochet extended the little chocolate he had by mixing it with hazelnuts from the Langhe hills south of Turin.[6] It is unclear when gianduja bars were made for the first time. However, Kohler is generally credited for the addition of (whole) hazelnuts to chocolate bars in 1830.[7] It is also known that, in 1852, Turin-based chocolate manufacturer Caffarel invented gianduiotto, which is a small ingot-shaped gianduja.[8]

It takes its name from Gianduja, a Carnival and marionette character who represents the archetypal Piedmontese, natives of the Italian region where hazelnut confectionery is common. A textbook by Le Cordon Bleu writes this naming was an attempt to appeal to children.[9]

Production

Hazelnuts are toasted, refined to the size of cocoa, and mixed with chocolate. Artisans are able to make gianduja on a small-scale, permitting control over flavor, firmness and color.[10]

See also

Media related to Gianduia at Wikimedia Commons

Notes

  1. Pronounced /ænˈdjə/ jan-DOO-yə, UK also /ænˈdə/ jan-DOO-jə, US also /ɑːnˈdjə/ jahn-DOO-yə; Italian: [dʒanˈduːja];[1] Piedmontese: giandoja [dʒaŋˈdʊja].

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.