Thursday, September 20, 2007

Ferrara Nougats

Ferrara Nougat packageI’ve been on quite a nougat roll this summer, mostly because it’s a very satisfying candy that does well in the heat. The funny thing is, before this year I don’t think I considered nougat a summer candy, I’ve always associated nougat with Christmas.

My husband picked up these two nougat bars at a deli in Santa Monica. (He’s always so considerate that way!) It’s always a good sign when the ingredients list for a nougat starts with nuts. In this case it’s pistachios. They were nicely sized and spread out in the bar and provided the chewy crunch that sets off the sweet nougat so well.

This pistachio bar was also flavored with pistachio, so it had that perfumed taste rather like green tea ice cream and violets along with the grassy notes of the nuts. The honey didn’t stand out much, as I often prefer in my nougat.

DSC02709rThe flatness of this bar made it particularly easy to eat. The nougat was also pretty soft. The only weird thing about it was because there was a wafer on each side, biting it was sometimes a little difficult (maybe I need my teeth sharpened) and the nougat wanted to spread out the sides of the wafers. Also, because there was more wafer by proportion, there was more of a “cereal” taste to it.

Overall, it wasn’t my favorite nougat of all time, but certainly portable and a nice after dinner snack.

Ferrara Nougat packageI haven’t had many chocolate nougats, but this one certainly smelled chocolatey.

There was a slight grainy note to the nougat, like little sugar crystals. The chocolate flavor was more like cocoa than chocolate but exceptionally nutty - the ingredients list both toasted almonds and hazelnut paste. Think of a very high end Tootsie Roll with nuts, I know it sounds weird, but it was still very satisfying.

DSC02713rThe nuts were just as abundant in this nougat as the Pistachio. I wanted a stronger honey note to it, but it wasn’t too sweet and had a light texture that was definitely just the kick I needed during the summer heat.

Nougat also travels particularly well, so keep that in mind when putting together your air travel survival kit.

Ferrara NougatsWhile at the All Candy Expo I made a point to stop by the booth of the American importer of Ferrara products. The company also makes the La Florentine line of torrones, you know, the ones in the little boxes that come in orange, lemon and vanilla and have stately portraits of royalty on them. That was the brand I used to get those in my stocking at Christmas, so they’re one of the first nougats I’ve ever had and quite special to me.

The bars above, of course, are more meaty portions (and more economical packaging). I grabbed a traditional Ferrara nougat bar which I’m excited to try after the Pistachio as well as their chocolate covered plain nougat (it comes in a large box and they’re not individually wrapped). I think nougat is a wonderful hostess gift, though some might disagree. (But if I’m the hostess and you’re coming to my house, I’ll think you’re pretty special and invite you back often.)

Name: Ferrara Nougats: Pistachio and Chocolate
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Ferrara
Place Purchased: gift
Price: unknown
Size: unknown
Calories per ounce: unknown
Categories: Chocolate, Nougat, Nuts, Italy

POSTED BY Cybele AT 3:15 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. Was it Bay Cities deli? Because last time I was there, I noticed they had a bunch of nougat (but expensive! so I didn’t get any *woe*).

    Comment by Grace on 9/20/07 at 5:36 am #
  2. I’m so disappointed we can’t get this nougat in Australia - the idea of notes of green tea and violets - I’m drooling!  Stumbled you, and glad I did (apart from the drooling thing, of course!)

    Comment by Emma on 9/20/07 at 11:08 pm #
  3. Cybele's avatar

    Grace - it was Bay Cities! I think the bars were $2 each or something, which isn’t that bad.

    Emma - check out that other nougat reviews I’ve done, including one that’s more local to you called Nutpatch Nougats from Tasmania. Seriously expensive, but the most transcendent nougat experience you’ll ever have.

    Comment by Cybele on 9/24/07 at 10:30 am #
  4. Cybele, thank you so much for your suggestion!  My parents live in Tasmania, I’m dispatching them on a mission to find me that nougat as I type.

    Comment by Emma on 9/24/07 at 12:01 pm #
  5. I’m having serious nougat envy, reading this. I just ate a Ferrara almond honey with orange flavor - which is great (thanks), but I want to try that chocolate one. And may just need to find myself a Nutpatch somehow.  I’m starting to become obsessed with nougat (torrone, turron, etc.) Damn, they are good!

    Comment by joanna on 10/02/07 at 4:45 pm #
  6. First, I’d just like to offer my admiration of this candy blog—it’s been making me hungry ever since I stumbled onto it an hour and a half ago! 

    I got here in the first place because I was looking for establishments that might carry the Ferrara Assorted Torrone (the Orange, Lemon and Vanilla ones in the little boxes Cybele mentioned).  My Italian grandparents always gave them to us when we were kids, primarily around Christmas time.  The holidays won’t be the same if I can’t find them on the west coast, and I dislike ordering food online.  Any advice on local carriers???

    Comment by Cali on 11/27/07 at 2:09 pm #
  7. I love their nougat, but out of having had the lemon, orange and vanilla nougat I only eat the lemon one (personal preference). I had something called Nirvana Nougat, the company’s name was Nirvana too I think, and it made me want to puke. I bought it at whole foods. I spit it out, and my dog wouldn’t eat it, a clean piece. Seeems kinda hard to screw up nougat, considering the ingredents list. Before I read the entire review, I was going to suggest you try their chocolate nougat. ^_^

    Comment by Meghan on 4/29/08 at 6:49 pm #
  8. Do you make a gluten free almond nougat candy.

    Comment by Karen on 12/08/09 at 1:34 am #
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