Gianduja (chocolate)

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Gianduja (or, more commonly, gianduia) is a sweet chocolate containing about 50% hazelnut, almond, or any other nut paste. It takes its name from Gianduja, a Carnival and marionette character who represents the archetypal Piedmontese, the Italian region where hazelnut confectionery is common. Purdy's Hedgehogs is an example of Gianduja.

The chocolate hazelnut gelato of the same name originates in Switzerland, as does Gianduia fondue. A related product from Ferrero is Nutella, which was originally called Pasta Gianduja, as a marketing ploy to appeal to children.

Gianduiotti, a speciality of Turin, are chocolates shaped like an upturned boat, again made with a mixture of cocoa and hazelnut paste.

[edit] Origin of the name

"Giandla duja" is also Piedmontese for the hazelnut "giandula", and "giandulott" is the kernel of drupes. The English translation into "sweet nut" hits the original description of the Albese dialect meaning, and the terms gianda, gandula, gandulin and gandulott are well known throughout the areas of Gallo-Italic parlance.