Pistacchiotti – Pistachio Nougat Pralines

Pistacchiotti, the green pistachio pralines from Asti

Pistacchiotti are single-origin pistachio pralines from D.Barbero in Asti, Piedmont, made from finely ground Bronte pistachios and white chocolate. The creamy praline mass is poured into the classic Gianduiotti shape and individually wrapped in green paper.

Pistacchiotti are fine pistachio nougat pralines from the Cioccolateria & Torroneria D.Barbero in Asti, Piedmont. Single-origin pistachios from Bronte are finely ground at the manufactory, combined with white chocolate into a smooth praliné mass, and poured into the characteristic Gianduiotti shape. Each praline is then individually wrapped by hand in green paper.

Creamy on the tongue, intense in flavor

The Pistacchiotti melts gently in the mouth without breaking. Single-origin pistachio praliné—nutty, savory, wonderfully aromatic, and with a fine creaminess that comes solely from the white chocolate.

Sweet, yes, but restrained. Barbero consciously avoids artificial flavors throughout the entire manufactory, which allows the character of the pistachio to shine through clearly without being masked. A praline made especially for pistachio lovers.

Bronte pistachios, finely ground by the chocolatier

The pistachios for the Pistacchiotti come exclusively from Bronte at the foot of Mount Etna in Sicily, the most famous pistachio-growing region in Italy. Their deep green color and distinct nutty aroma make them the first choice for Italian praline makers.

At the D.Barbero manufactory, the pistachios are ground to an extremely fine consistency until a smooth paste is formed. This is then combined with white chocolate to create the creamy praliné mass that defines the Pistacchiotto. The mixture is poured into characteristic Gianduiotti molds, shaken gently to remove air, and cooled for hours—resulting in the small prismatic troughs that give the praline its typical shape.

This shape is no coincidence; it is reminiscent of the "tricorno," the three-cornered hat of the Gianduja mask: that Piedmontese Commedia dell'arte character from Turin who handed out the first Gianduiotti to revelers at the 1865 carnival, and gave them their name in the process.

At D.Barbero, all five types of pralines share this classic shape; only the color of the paper reveals the variety: copper for the classic Gianduiotti with Tonda Gentile hazelnuts, green for the Bronte Pistacchiotti, light blue for the Torronjotti with white torrone pieces, red for the dark Giandujotti Fondente, and blue for the Caramellotto with salted caramel. For those who want to taste all the varieties in one bag, we also offer a 200 g mix bag containing five pralines of each variety.

Seven generations of confectionery from Asti

In 1883, Melchiorre Barbero received a license in Asti to commercially produce "Torroni e Noasetti." Just two years later, exhibitions in Naples, Turin, and Livorno awarded the young firm the "Diploma di progresso," followed by a gold medal from Castelfranco Veneto in 1903.

Today, with the business in family hands for seven generations, Giovanni Barbero and his nephew Davide Maddaleno continue to run the manufactory at Via Brofferio 84 in the heart of Asti's historic center. The firm leaves no doubt about its standards when selecting raw materials: hazelnuts are always the Tonda Gentile delle Langhe variety, almonds are from Puglia near Bari, and pistachios are from Bronte. This consistency in using single-origin ingredients is what gives the pralines their character. Each praline weighs around 8 grams and is individually wrapped by hand in colored paper.

You can find other specialties from D.Barbero with us—the classic Gianduiotti with Tonda Gentile hazelnuts in copper-colored paper or the Torronjotti with white torrone pieces in a light blue wrapper.

For an afternoon Caffè Macchiato

The green Pistacchiotti show off their nutty, savory side when paired with an espresso or an afternoon Caffè Macchiato. Serve at room temperature to allow their delicate melt to fully unfold. The 100 g bag with a ribbon—containing 12 individually wrapped pralines—is a nutty gift for lovers of Italian sweets, while the 500 g bag is for those who like to keep a good supply on hand for themselves. Stored in a cool, dry place and tightly sealed, they stay fresh for at least three months.