Anyone who’s tried Marco Colzani’s chocolate hazelnut spread won’t be the least bit surprised to learn it came out on top at Serious Eats! The editors blind-tasted nine different chocolate hazelnut spreads to find out which brand had the best texture and flavor. They were looking for a decadent condiment, one that tasted just like a spreadable version of a luxurious gianduja bar. The verdict?
“Marco Colzani’s spread was the clear winner”
Looking for the perfect chocolate-to-hazelnut ratio, the editors at Serious Eats concluded Marco’s spread was perfectly balanced. Of course it is, Marco wouldn’t have it any other way!
“We collectively decided this was our idea of what gianduja should taste like.”
The best Chocolate Hazelnut spread? It’s made with the best ingredients
This crema spamabile truly is the highest expression of gianduja, and that’s all thanks to the stellar raw materials Marco sources. He uses exclusively Terra delle Nocciole hazelnuts from a cooperative of farmers in Alta Langa. As a bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Marco then adds cacao powder made in-house at his chocolate lab. Finally, he adds raw Italian sugar made from sugar beets.
Notice how Alta Langa hazelnuts are first on the ingredient list. That’s because they have the smallest proportion compared to the other two ingredients. Take a look at other leading chocolate hazelnut spreads and you’ll notice sugar is often listed first, meaning it’s the most prominent ingredient.
“Our top pick boasts 50% hazelnuts. The same brand also had the most minimal ingredient list- no emulsifiers, cocoa butter, flavorings, or other nuts”.
So, if you’re looking for the best chocolate hazelnut spread in the world (that also happens to be vegan), look no further. Italians and Americans agree: it has to be Marco Colzani.