The Hazelnut Paste for sale on Shop Baldaiassa is 100% pure hazelnut paste without the addition of other ingredients and is obtained by refining, a grinding process that reduces the fruit into a very fine paste, of roasted hazelnuts exclusively of the Tonda Gentile Trilobata variety grown in Piedmont.

The hazelnut paste has an intense toasted hazelnut taste and takes from this its classic color which can vary from lighter to darker depending on the degree of toasting of the fruit.

Contrary to what its name would suggest, it has a rather fluid consistency and this is due to the abundant quantity of oil, about 69% of its weight, which is released during its production but which is naturally present in hazelnuts.

For this reason it is sometimes stratified, in fact the oil tends to separate from the fibrous component emerging on the surface, but it is sufficient to mix it with a teaspoon before its use, so as to bring it back to its original consistency.

The hazelnut paste owes its fame to the Turin master chocolatiers, in fact it is due to them its use since the second half of the 19th century, period in which in the subalpine city the chocolate was scarce because of the commercial blockade imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte on British ships in all the territories of French domination.

The intuition seems to be traced back to the artisan Michele Prochet, who decided to "cut" the chocolate with a very fine paste obtained by grinding toasted hazelnuts. Thus it was that the Gianduia dough was born, that of the famous chocolates, which was followed, by mixing the hazelnut paste and chocolate in different proportions, by the famous spreadable cream Gianduia, famous all over the world and pride of Piedmont.

In recent years there has been an increase in consumption and spread of 100% pure hazelnut paste as a finished product rather than as an ingredient, thanks to its particularly appreciable nutritional values and to the greater attention paid to those foods without added sugar and fat. In addition, its ease of use, due to its fluid consistency, has made it a healthier alternative to traditional spreads.

People often have doubts about how to use it, but hazelnut paste is also excellent on its own, for example for breakfast on toast or rusks, mixed with yogurt or dissolved in hot milk. Its use generally finds application in pastry recipes, but it can also be used very easily for the preparation of homemade cakes, puddings and creams.

Its use is not limited only to sweet recipes, but also to savoury ones: in fact there are many variations of hazelnut sauce for meat, roast, anchovies or hazelnut pesto excellent for seasoning pasta.

To preserve its organoleptic characteristics, it is better if it is stored in the refrigerator at +4°C, although it can also be stored at room temperature provided that it is protected from direct light and too much heat, conditions that would facilitate the rancidity of the fats contained in it.

The hazelnut paste for sale on Shop Baldaiassa is vacuum packed ready to use, convenient and practical for homemade recipes.