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The Complete Guide to Nutella

Nutella and banana

Last Updated on June 20, 2022 by Jim Edwards

Contents

What Is Nutella?

Nutella is the tempting and sweet cocoa-hazelnut spread consumed by people all over the globe for breakfast and dessert. It is an original hazelnut-cocoa combo that has inspired many brands to produce similar products, but Nutella remains exceptionally popular in the chocolate spread industry. Nutella’s popularity makes it a preferred chocolate confection for ice creams, cocktails, milkshakes, and baked goods.

It’s difficult to find a household without a jar of Nutella on the breakfast table! Interestingly, different countries have produced their own versions of Nutella. With various ratios of sugar, hazelnuts, and cocoa powder, many countries have their own iterations, and each one is mouthwatering! In the United States, sugar and palm oil are the main ingredients besides hazelnuts and cocoa powder.

Given the high content of hazelnuts in Nutella, people consider it a healthy snack. Some use it as a substitute for nut butter, jams, and jelly.

History of Nutella

Ferrero is an Italian company that manufactures Nutella globally. They introduced the first iteration of Nutella in 1963, and within a year, the company was selling it commercially.

The roots of Nutella lie in the small Italian town called Alba, famous for hazelnut production. Pietro Ferrero was a bakery owner in this town who used hazelnuts to make a homogenous product, Pasta Gianduja. At first, Gianduja was a solid confection but later was sold in a creamy version, Supercrema Gianduja.

Michele Ferrero, Pietro’s son, was the visionary who modified the recipe for Supercrema Gianduja and planned to sell it across Europe. The new version of Gianduja was called “Nutella.”

1964 marked the success of Nutella’s introduction in the European market. The following decades made it a global success with multiple manufacturing countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, India, Canada, and Australia.

Hazelnuts on the Nutella bottle; person holding Nutella

Nutella Ingredients

  • Sugar
  • Modified palm oil
  • Hazelnuts
  • Cocoa powder
  • Skimmed milk powder
  • Whey powder
  • Soy lecithin
  • Vanillin

While the chocolate confection is promoted as a healthy hazelnut and cocoa spread, there’s more palm oil and sugar than those two ingredients. Nutella has 58% of processed sugar, followed by a high content of palm oil. The manufacturing company uses 100% RSPO-certified palm oil. It is sustainable and easy to trace back to the mills.

As for the other ingredients, Nutella manufacturers are the true experts in the field of hazelnuts. They have spent more than 50 years building a legacy around keeping the hazelnuts fresh for the production of Nutella. From checking the hazelnuts for quality to roasting and grinding them into a paste, each process is carried out meticulously.

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The cocoa beans used for Nutella are 100% certified and sourced from West Africa. The company promotes sustainable farming practices with the help of the Ferrero Farming Values Cocoa Program. It results in income diversification and better cocoa productivity for the company. The beans are transported to Ferrero factories, where they are transformed into cocoa powder after a 4-step process.

Nutella Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 37g (2 tbsp)
Calories 200
Fat 17% (11g)
Saturated Fat 18% (3.5g)
Trans Fat 0%
Cholesterol 0%
Sodium 1% (15mg)
Carbohydrates 7% (22g)
Fiber 6% (1g)
Sugars 21g
Protein 3g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 4%
Iron 4%

Interesting Things to Know about Nutella!

Italian Law Prohibits You from Calling It “Chocolate Cream”

Did you know there’s a minimum requirement for cocoa solids? Different chocolate products have their own standard for the amount of cocoa. Surprisingly, Nutella does not meet any of those minimum requirements. So, you cannot call it chocolate cream!

A law has been passed in Italy that prohibits the use of “chocolate cream” for Nutella. If you want to call it something other than Nutella, you can use the phrase “hazelnut cream.”

Each Jar Contains about 50 Hazelnuts

Ferrero is the biggest brand that uses hazelnuts to produce its cocoa product. The company utilizes 25% of the global supply of hazelnuts, leading to the assumption that each jar of Nutella contains about 50 hazelnuts! Although the taste may be baffling, it does not disappoint Nutella lovers!

Nutella; Bread with Nutella

Someone Tried to Name Their Kid “Nutella”

In 2015, a judge had to stop a French couple from naming their kid Nutella. The couple wanted their baby girl to have a unique name, and that’s what they chose! Thankfully, the judge understood the level of mockery and humiliation the kid would be subject to throughout her life. The name was then shortened to “Ella.”

Refrigerating Nutella Is a Terrible Thing to Do

Nutella has about 11g of sugar and 100 calories per tablespoon, which makes it shelf-friendly until the expiration date. The cocoa-hazelnut spread is edible at room temperature, so there’s no need to refrigerate it. Those who believe that it’s better to chill it must know that the cold temperature will harden the oil in Nutella. You won’t be able to spread it smoothly every morning for breakfast!

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You Can Celebrate “World Nutella Day”

Imagine having an entire day where you can consume Nutella for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Before 2007, it was a dream of many people, but thankfully, a Nutella enthusiast introduced World Nutella Day. It is celebrated on February 5th by all the fans across the globe who have loved Nutella for decades.

World War II Is Responsible for the Creation of Nutella

During World War II, the prices of chocolate skyrocketed in Europe, and manufacturers were at a loss for brilliant ideas to make it last. Thanks to a bakery owner living in a small town in Italy, hazelnuts were used to create solid blocks in 1946. Later, he added vegetable oil to transform it into a paste which was then reintroduced as Nutella. The Italian man was no other than Pietro Ferrero.

Nutella Had “The Smearing” Marketing Strategy

If anyone asks why you are addicted to Nutella, just tell them the story of “The Smearing.” While the cocoa-hazelnut spread was on the rise, Italian markets used a unique yet successful strategy to increase sales. They would offer any kid a smear of Nutella if they arrived with a piece of bread. “The Smearing,” then, turned into a marketing strategy that made everyone addicted to the heavenly taste of cocoa and hazelnut spread.

Nutella for breakfast

Italy Made Nutella Stamps for the 50th Anniversary

Nutella turned 50 in 2014, and Italy was so proud of this fact that the Italian Postal Service added a small jar of Nutella to their stamps. The Nutella-themed stamps were available in 2014 and served to remind people that Italy is the country where it all began.

Massive Nutella Bucket Ice Cream Rolls | Making Ice Cream Out of Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – ASMR

Do you enjoy eating a massive serving of Nutella ice cream rolls every once in a while? This video shows how the chocolate ice cream rolls are made into the heavenly dessert we all love!

Summary

Nutella is the most famous hazelnut cocoa spread in the world. The decades invested in research by Ferrero have only improved its flavor and texture. People have tried it with bagels, different kinds of bread and rolls for breakfast, and used the flavor for desserts like ice cream and chocolate bars. If you want to truly appreciate Nutella’s flavor, we suggest doing a quick Google search and finding the easiest Nutella recipe to try right now!

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Nutella – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Nutella Vegan?

Nutella is not vegan because it contains an animal-derived product, skim milk powder. If you are looking for a vegan cocoa-hazelnut spread, you may not be able to enjoy Nutella. However, there are other brands labeled “vegan” that you can try to satisfy your hazelnut and cocoa cravings.

Is Nutella Healthy?

Nutella has a high sugar and palm oil content, contributing to the increased number of calories and fat. While the suggested serving size is 2 tablespoons per day, people cannot resist the creamy sweet flavor and eat more than they should. This can contribute to an unhealthy diet where a person can gradually gain weight.

What Is Nutella Made Of?

Nutella is made of sugar, palm oil, cocoa powder, hazelnuts, skim milk powder, whey powder, lecithin, and synthetic vanillin. It is advertised as a healthy product due to its high hazelnuts. However, it is high in fat and sugar.

Is Nutella Chocolate?

Nutella is a hazelnut cocoa spread, making it a chocolate hazelnut spread, but it does not qualify as chocolate cream. According to Italian law, the famous spread does not meet the minimum requirements for the cocoa amount, so calling it a chocolate cream is wrong. It has more hazelnuts than cocoa powder, so it’s best to call Nutella a hazelnut spread.

Is Nutella Gluten-Free?

Nutella’s website claims that no gluten-derived ingredients are used in the production, making it a gluten-free product. However, it is not a certified gluten-free product. The company does not guarantee that Nutella is safe from cross-contamination during the production process.

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