The Sweet Life – Chocolates of Italy

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Joanne Natale Spigonardo

November 18, 2024

Venchi Chocolate

As we embark on the holiday season, I’m thinking of all the wonderful chocolates I’ve experienced from Italy. My favorites are well known, for example confections from Venchi, Perugina, and Ferrero, while others are not, for example Baratti & Milano and Caffarel. Italy is known for its sweet life, or la dolce vita, and literally eating Italy’s scrumptious chocolates is a bite of happiness.

While chocolate dates back thousands of years to the Aztec and Mayan cultures, it wasn’t brought to Europe until the 16th century. Many historians believe that Christopher Columbus brought back cacao beans from his travels. Cacao was originally used for medicinal purposes until it became popular in Florence and Turin as a soothing drink to lift the spirts. Like I said it is a bite of happiness. In the 18th century, companies life Caffarel and Baratti & Milano began making chocolate candy for the aristocracy, for the House of Savoy, and for Napoleon.

Caffarel was founded by Pier Caffarel in 1826 in Turin’s historical district where Pier joined Michele Prochet to create Italy’s most famous chocolate flavor the gianduja. The gianduiotto is a luscious combination of artisanal chocolate mixed with hazelnut butter. It is on everyone’s Christmas desert table. The name comes from Turin’s carnival mask. Even though Caffarel is now owned by Lindt, it’s roots are deeply embedded in Turin’s culture.

Caffarell Gianduja

Baratti & Milano is one of the most eclectic names in Italian chocolate. Usually found in elite gourmet shops, although it is readily available online. It’s origins date back to the Baratti family in the mid 1800’s who then joined forces with the Milano family, both prominent chocolate makers in the Piemonte region and also based in Turin. Baratti & Milano are still family owned and did not merge with a global company. The company is known for its Cuneese from Cuneo a provincial city outside of Turin. Cuneese are the most delectable confection that you may ever eat, it is a creamy bitter-sweet chocolate that is infused with rum. Ernest Hemingway was known to import them to his house in Key West.

Baratti & Milano Cuneese

Venchi and Perugina are also outstanding chocolatiers that are now very common globally. Venchi has flagship stores through Italy, its most famous are in Rome and New York. Now Venchi is also in the King of Prussia mall with exquisite chocolates and gelato. Perugina is always recognized for its infamous Baci.

Baci, Perugina

Take a bite out of the simple pleasures during this holiday season. In the middle of shopping, wrapping, card writing, stop and take a moment to savor the flavors of Italy. It’s as easy as enjoying an Italian chocolate. Small things go a long way and will definitely make you joyful!

About the Author

Joanne Natale Spigonardo has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, music, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty.  She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB.  For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.

Published by spigonaj

Joanne Spigonardo Business Development Consultant Specializing in Sustainability, Higher Education, Career Management, and Public Relations In her former roles, Joanne served as Senior Associate Director at the Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) at Wharton. Joanne was also part of the Communications Office. She held positions as business manager of the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists and for the Wharton Alumni Magazine. Joanne also served as the media relations coordinator. When with Alitalia Airlines, Joanne worked as a sales representative. Joanne graduated from The University of Pennsylvania with a BA and later graduated from the Wharton Aresty Institute of Executive Education. She has a strong background in development, management, marketing, and Italian language and culture. As a Wharton Mentor, she coached new employees on professional development, and is active in Penn’s Grievance panels. Joanne was on the board of governors for the University Club. Joanne is chair of the Delaware County Penn Alumni Interview Program and oversees alumni volunteers. As an alum of Penn and Wharton, and also a parent of two Penn graduates, she is a strong advocate in promoting Penn. At Wharton IGEL, Joanne had been in partnership with GreenBiz, Sustainable Brands, the Ethical Corporation, Pira Packaging International, Public Relations Society of America, the Green Sports Alliance, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the Italian Consulate, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Sonoma County Winegrowers Association, and the Nature Conservancy, as well as, many other NGO and government offices. She has brokered hundreds of corporate relationships for Wharton. Joanne is the author of her book, White Widow, published on Kindle and Amazon. The book is a fictional novel about 19th-20th Century Italian immigrants. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB

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