Gianduja (chocolate) facts for kids
Nutella, seen here spread on bread, is a type of gianduia spread
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| Type | Nougat |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Turin, Piedmont |
| Main ingredients | Chocolate, hazelnut paste |
Gianduia (pronounced jan-DOO-yah) is a delicious sweet chocolate spread. It contains about 30% hazelnut paste. This tasty treat was first made in Turin, Italy, a long time ago. It was invented during the time of Napoleon's rule, between 1796 and 1814.
How Gianduia Was Invented
The story of gianduia starts with a problem. In 1806, a powerful leader named Napoleon put a special rule in place called the Continental System. This rule stopped British goods from entering European ports that France controlled. This meant it was very hard to get cocoa, which is needed to make chocolate.
A smart chocolate maker in Turin, Italy, named Michele Prochet, had an idea. He had very little chocolate left. To make it last longer, he mixed it with something local: hazelnuts! These hazelnuts came from the Langhe hills, which are south of Turin. This mix of chocolate and hazelnuts became gianduia.
Later, in 1852, a chocolate company in Turin called Caffarel used gianduia to create a new type of chocolate. They shaped it into small, boat-shaped pieces called gianduiottos.
Where the Name Comes From
The name Gianduia comes from a famous character. This character is called Gianduja. He is a traditional Carnival and marionette puppet character. He represents the typical person from Piedmont, which is the Italian region where gianduia was invented. This area is well-known for its delicious hazelnut sweets.
