In Praise of Nocciolata

While I like the idea of a smooth and creamy chocolate hazelnut spread, the popularity of one particular brand astounds me! To me, it's like spreading a melted, chocolate-scented candle on my toast in the morning, although somehow, I think the candle would have more taste. There are a lot of recipes that employ the use of chocolate hazelnut spread, many of which I'd like to try, but the product itself was so off-putting that I set those aside.

So, when I was contacted by Rigoni di Asiago, asking me if I was interested in trying their chocolate spread called Nocciolata, I initially hesitated. My curiosity got the better of me, however, and I accepted their offer. Am I ever glad that I did; this stuff is the real deal. You can tell the difference simply by opening the jar.

Have a look, it's smooth, creamy, and not at all waxy. It also contains all natural ingredients, none of that artificial stuff like you'll find in their competitor.

As for taste, well, luxurious comes to mind. It tastes like the liquid version of one of those high-end truffles wrapped in foil to which I will occasionally treat myself. 

 

My favorite way to eat it (although I'm tempted spoon it straight from the jar) is to spread it onto crepes (easily done due to the incredible creaminess), fold them into quarters, dust them with powdered sugar, and enjoy for breakfast or afternoon tea. But it can also be stirred into the batter of many baked goods. I have a number of recipes that I plan to try, so stay tuned during the coming weeks as I experiment and report.

I can't say enough about this sumptuous spread. It's a tad pricier than its competition, but you get what you pay for, and with Nocciolata you get dark chocolate from the Antillean Islands, Italian hazelnuts, cane sugar, skim milk, and bourbon vanilla extract.  What you don't get is palm oil, hydrogenated fat, and artificial flavors or colorings. It has the added bonus of being certified USDA organic, as well as gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and it contains no soy lecithin. Trust me when I tell you that it is worth every penny. Now go out and get yourself some, you’ll thank me later.

 

Disclaimer: I received a jar of Nocciolata free of charge in exchange for an honest review.