Chocolate in Turin: A Chocoholics Guide to The Sweetest Experiences
Chocoholics, rejoice — chocolate in Turin is a romance for the ages!
Turin is an elegant yet quaint city that sits in the shadow of the majestic Alps in Italy’s northwest Piedmont region.
And while tens of thousands of visitors visit each year to see the Shroud of Turin, it’s the food and drink of the Piedmont region that draws foodies.
Famous for its native Lavazza coffee, Barolo wines, and slow food, the language of love is perhaps most beautifully conveyed through its Torino chocolate — one of the city’s most delectable foods!
Between Turin's renowned Giandiotto chocolate ingot and its luscious Bicerin coffee drink with chocolate (or chocolate drink with coffee), you don’t have to go far to experience great chocolate.
Turin is one of Italy's great food cities with no difficulty standing its ground against other European chocolate giants like France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
So, where does a chocoholic begin to experience the beautiful bean in all its glorious forms?
If you’re new to the historic chocolate gem that is Turin, grab a bar and settle in (do you prefer your Turin chocolate amargo (bitter) or semi amargo (bittersweet)?
Eating the best chocolate in Turin is a bucket list food experience in Italy, and here’s all you need to know to make your trip as sweet as can be.
What’s in this Chocoholics Guide?
History of Chocolate in Turin
Era-Defining Chocolates in Turin
Chocolate in Turin Today
Chocolate Specialties in Turin
The Best Chocolatiers in Turin
Chocolate Stops in Turin
Top Chocolate Tours in Turin
CioccolaTò, The Must Visit Chocolate Festival in Turin
History of Chocolate in Turin
The discovery of the Americas is what led to chocolate making its way to Spain. From there, it didn't take long for the obsession to become widespread across Europe due to the royal connections between Spain, Portugal, France, Austria, and Italy.
Turin and Chocolate - A Romance for the ages!
In the year 1560, Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy toasted a cup of hot chocolate to celebrate the transfer of the capital of Ducal from Chambéry to Torino. This was a time when chocolate was enjoyed simply as a beverage.
It was nearly a century later that Turin finally received an official license to produce chocolate and Giò Antonio Battista Ari pioneered the first chocolate house in the city.
It became a frontrunner in the growing chocolate industry at the same time that cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) gained popularity all across Europe.
What does all this mean for you? Torino chocolate is among the best in the world, and eating chocolate there is quite simply one of the best things a foodie can do in Turin!
Era-Defining Chocolates in Turin
Gianduja
While it certainly looks different today, it's very likely that the first version of the chocolate bar originated in Turin.
The procurement of enough cocoa during the Napoleonic Wars to make chocolates led to the invention of Gianduja, a decadent chocolate blend with 30% hazelnut paste.
Named after a Carnival character from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte, a popular form of theater at the time, Gianduja was the genius of the chocolatier Caffarel. It is enjoyed in the form of chocolate bars, a spread, and as filling for other chocolates.
Today, bearing the likeness of a tricorn hat and a brown jacket with red borders, the character Gianduja is considered the official carnival mask in Torino.
gianduiotto chocolate
Named after the mask of Piedmont and shaped to resemble a gold ingot, the Gianduiotto chocolate is a delicious symbol of Turin that was first produced by Caffarel in 1865.
Made with hazelnuts, cocoa, and sugar, it is available today at elite chocolatiers and supermarkets.
Bicerin
Do you find it hard to choose between coffee and hot chocolate? Bicerin is a delicious, 18th century drink made from espresso, chocolate, and milk that might be the answer to your problem.
Try it on your next trip to Torino at the historical place where it all began, Caffe al Bicerin.
Nutella
This is one of the most popular forms of chocolate worldwide, and the most addictive! In 1946, a pastry chef in Alba developed Nutella for children by experimenting with chocolate cream.
The rest, as they say, is history! Italians are so in love with this condiment they consume at least 60 million jars of it every year, and you’ll always find an open jar in an Italian kitchen.
>>> Take a Chocolate Tour! <<<
This top-rated 2 hour chocolate-focused walking tour is a great way to discover and explore the sweet side of Turin.
Chocolate in Turin Today
As one of the world's top chocolate capitals, Turin is a great place for chocolate lovers to see some of the best chocolateries that Italy has to offer. Lucky for you, most manufacturers’ shops are located in and around the city center which makes it easy to create your own self-guided chocolate tour and get started right away.
Chocolate Specialties in Turin
Nocciolato Fondente, Latte, Or Bianco
Nocciolato are huge bars of chocolate that are loaded with whole roasted hazelnuts. The dark chocolate variety is called nocciolato fondente, while the milk chocolate and white chocolate varieties are called nocciolato latte and nocciolato bianco respectively.
Combining the perfect amount of chocolate and local hazelnuts that are roasted until golden, nocciolato are available to purchase by weight at most chocolate shops in Turin.
If you're looking for small, bite-sized versions of this beloved treat, ask for nocciolatini instead.
Cremino
A divine layer of hazelnut or almond cream sandwiched between two layers of gianduja — oh, my! Are you drooling? Because we are!
Cremino is a delightful chocolate with layers of lemon creme, coffee creme, or hazelnut cream sandwiched between chocolate.
The version available in stores today actually has its origins in a contest that was held in 1911 by Fiat. The famous Turin-based automobile company had Italy's best chocolatiers create a chocolate in honor of the launch of its new car, the Fiat 4.
Chocolate maker Majani took the opportunity to reinvent Baratti & Milano's original recipe for the delectable cube and came up with "Il Cremino."
Originally made with four layers, it is now made with three and sold in nearly every chocolate shop across Turin.
Cri Cri
This treat made of a hazelnut covered in chocolate with a coating of tiny sugar pearls derives its name from a cute love story that involves a student from Turin and his girlfriend, Cristina (Cri).
According to the legend, the boy bought Cri these chocolates so often that it soon became a private joke with the shopkeeper. Eventually, he ended up calling the festive-looking chocolate "Cri Cri" and the name just stuck!
Tris Di Nocciole
This recognizable chocolate specialty in Turin is a simple cluster of three hazelnuts coated with chocolate — perfect for those late afternoon sugar and cocoa cravings. They’re poppable and delicious in one bite!
More Items to Try and Buy
Your trip to Turin would be incomplete without an indulgent cup of Piedmontese hot chocolate with a Gianguja spread to take home. Baci di Dama cookies and chocolate truffles are other must-tries when in Turin.
The Best Chocolatiers in Turin
There's no doubt that Turin is home to some of the best hand-crafted chocolates in the world, but what makes it even more noteworthy are the geniuses who created them.
Below we share with you the best chocolatiers that Turin has nurtured along with some of their best-selling creations.
Caffarel
As the mastermind behind the Gianduiotto, Caffarel has earned the right to be your first stop for chocolates in Turin. It was one of the first chocolate factories in Italy and Europe, and is still known for its bean-to-bar chocolates today.
Try Caffarel's Gianduia 1865 from one of its outlets located across Italy. It comes in classic hazelnut, coffee, and dark variants, and does not dissappoint. Coffee, hot chocolate, bicerin, and gelato are some of the other delicious items that are available at the outlets as well.
Guido Gobino Turin
Known for his meticulously created chocolates using only the highest-grade ingredients, Guido Gobino’s chocolates have been winning awards ever since their inception.
With a trusted team of farmers who work bean-to-bar, Gobino creates both classic and experimental flavors. Cremino with sea salt and extra virgin olive oil as well as the Barolo chocolate are just two of the brand's unique creations that you must try on your trip to Torino.
>>> Booking a tasting at his shop on Via Lagrange or at his factory is highly recommended! <<<
Venchi
The experimentations of a young man named Silviano Venchi from Turin in the 19th century led to this globally-recognized brand, with several locations around the world.
While this prominent and loved chocolate brand offers a variety of chocolate confections, it is most famous for its Nougatine - a chocolate filled with gooey caramel and chopped hazelnuts from Piedmont.
Peyrano
What started out as a confectionery shop on the eastern bank of the Po River evolved into a chocolate manufacturing company in 1915, and soon after that became the official supplier to the Royal House of Savoy.
In the 1950s, the family began mixing chocolate with local nuts to add variety to their selection of premium delights.
Their famous alpino, giandujotto, and cremino are just some of the authentic recipes that are worth a try among their variety of more than 80 chocolates.
If you don't know what to choose, just pick up a box of their assorted pralines. We guarantee you'll be glad you did!
Guido Castagna
This family-owned chocolatier has produced some of the world's best chocolates for more than 100 years. more recently it has even been successful in adapting its chocolate making to modern-day tastes and ethics.
After being produced by hand, the chocolate here is aged for a minimum of six months. The craftsmanship, passion, and creativity employed in making these luscious hand-crafted treats have earned him both recognition and multiple awards.
Going without tasting his Giuinott (a bold reinvention of of the classic, Gianduitto) is considered a crime!
A. Giordano
A. Giordano, a 19th-century manufacturer of handmade chocolates, can be found not far from Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.
Barring the classics, it is best known for Giacometti (another type of chocolate hazelnut sweet treat), Alpinluce (wine-filled chocolate), spreads, bars, and much more.
Chocolate Stops in Turin
Caffé Al Bicerin
Caffe Al Bicerin is a historic establishment that first invented the famous Bicerin in Turin in 1763. Although indulging in a decadent cup of chocolate coffee can sometimes be a little heavy on your wallet, it's an experience worth having when in Turin.
The cafe also has its own collection of chocolates that include gianduiotto, chocolate bars, chocolate liqueurs, and more.
Odilla Chocolate
Odilla Chocolate prides itself on the quality of its chocolate made from the purest raw ingredients. It procures some of the finest cocoa in the world (Criollo Sur del Lago) and the best hazelnuts (Round Dear Trilobate) from small producers in Venezuela.
Owner and master chocolatier, Gabriel Maiolani, uses his family's traditional techniques to create his chocolates, which include more than 112 fillings and flavor varieties.
The candied orange peel french dipped in dark chocolate, the simple delicious praline, and the refreshing pink grapefruit are just some of the things you need to try.
Top Chocolate Tours in Turin
You’ll find that our detailed overview of chocolate in Turin makes planning a self-guided tour easier than ever. But for those of you that enjoy the local touch and the stories that go with it, here are our top picks for a guided tour.
2 Hour Tasting Tour
This top-rated 2 hour chocolate-focused walking tour is a great way to discover and explore the sweet side of Turin. Learn about the history of chocolate making in this region of Italy as you stroll through the heart of the city with your local foodie guide and storyteller.
You’ll also get to try Bicerin, gelato, pastries, and other local delicacies that are unique to Turin.
3 Hour Chocolate Walking tour
Crafted with love just like the chocolates of Turin, this 3-hour tasting tour is a dream for chocoholics. You’ll visit the best pastry shops, chocolatiers, and cafes in Turin, and indulge your sweet tooth with treats made from the famous Torino chocolate.
Check out the amazing artistry behind the chocolate in Turin!
CioccolaTò, The Must Visit Chocolate Festival in Turin
The city of Turin hosts the CioccolaTó chocolate festival every November in the baroque Piazza San Carlo, one of the fun food festivals in Italy.
Approximately 120 chocolate makers from Italy and other countries exhibit their products, offer free samples, and sell chocolate by the kilo here while competing with each other.
The delicious aroma of chocolate lingers in the air for miles around making this the ultimate chocolate experience. A whole month of chocolate-stained lips, sugar highs, and overall warmth and satisfaction await you!