1. Tronky
An amazing, addicting chocolate that is very popular in Italy. Tronky is a log shaped, wafer crisp shell filled with chocolate and hazelnut cream with little bits of hazelnut. Unlike other chocolate creams made with peanut oil, the hazelnut spread keeps the chocolate from getting oily and instead keeps the chocolate light and satisfying. The original flavor is "nocciola" nut flavored, but Ferrero has also come out with chocolate, pistachio, and milk and cereal flavors. If you ever take a trip to Italy make sure to pick one of these up at a local bar or grocery store.
2. Esta The
"The" in Italian means tea. Sold in lemon and peach flavors, Esta The is specifically directed towards children. Almost like a Capri-Sun, Esta The comes along with a straws that poke right through the plastic lid. The tea is very sweet, and packed with great flavor that is amazing when you are super thirsty. Esta The has even worked with Nutella in making a two-in-one product with Nutella and breadsticks on one side and Esta The on the other. A very popular pair in Italy that can't be found in America.
3. Nutella in Cups
Obviously, Nutella is sold in America. However, I have never seen Nutella sold in cups in any local stores. Italy sells Nutella in their original containers, but they also have small glass jars with cute cartoon characters or famous people that can be used as small glasses after finishing the Nutella. I have a few of these, including ones of the FIFA World Cup champions of 2006. All families in Italy have at least a few of these in their homes, and some people even collect them.
4. Mulino Bianco Cookies
These cookies are absolutely amazing, especially for dunking in milk. There are many different types, but my absolute favorite would have to be the Macine Con Panna cookies. These biscotti are all packed with natural flavors: you taste real flavors like vanilla and chocolate. Some types are covered in beautiful designs, some are coated in granulated or confectioners sugar, and each have different ingredients that make them unique. When at my grandparents home these can always be found in the pantry, and are usually eaten as a snack or for breakfast.
5. Brioche
Another snack that is a staple in Italy, brioche are usually eaten in the morning for breakfast or as a snack and are very popular amongst Italian children. A soft, spongy cake that has layered, creamy layers in the center. Some of these cakes are chocolate and vanilla flavored, but you can also find fruit flavored brioche like "albicocca" apricot. The center can also be filled with chocolate or "milk" flavored filling, and the outside of the brioche can sometime be covered with a chocolate shell or drizzled lightly with icing. Even though these snacks are marketed towards kids with the chance to earn points and prizes, there are many adults who indulge in these decadent treats.
6. Bitter (or Crodino)
Pronounced "beet-er", this drink is loved by many in Italy and can be used to make mixed drinks or can be used right from the bottle. The original bitter is red, and there is no exact flavor to explain its taste except for that it is very carbonated, and tends to be sweet but also very bitter.
7. Cedrinca Sicilia
Little caramelle (candies) that are citrus flavored. Zesty and tart, these hard candies are filled with a jelly that pops in your mouth when you bite down making the candy chewy and delicious. They are made with juices from real citrus fruits, have no added coloring, and have the true flavors of lime, lemon, orange, and grapefruit. They can normally be found in the homes of old Italian ladies, a memory that has stuck with me since childhood.
8. Ringo
Cookies that are very similar to Oreos, but that taste a 1000 times better. A creamy chocolate or vanilla icing that is sandwiched with one vanilla biscuit and another chocolate biscuit. These cookies are "morbido" soft, but also crunchy at the same time. They have the perfect amount of icing in the middle, and don't have an overpowering flavor like Oreo cookies.
9. Uova di Pasqua
A tradition in Italy, these giant chocolate eggs are used as presents during one's birthday, wedding, baptism, and so on. The milk chocolate egg is thin, hollow, and absolutely delicious. It is wrapped in colorful aluminum foil or wrapping paper and tied with colorful ribbons. The chocolate egg always has a prize inside which could either be a small token such as candy or something meaningful like an engagement ring. They are always an exciting and fun treat to have at family gatherings.
10. Maxibon
My favorite sweet of all time. I have looked for this product everywhere in America and have found it nowhere. I even tried ordering it from Italy. Yes, I tried ordering ice-cream from Europe. This dessert has stracciatella ice-cream with one half dipped in a chocolate shell surrounded by biscuit crumbs and hazelnut bits. The other half is sandwiched between two cocoa biscuits that are soft and exquisite. You hold the biscuit side while eating the chocolate dipped part until you reach the cookie side. Besides gelato, this is probably the best wrapped ice-cream you can buy in Italia. I highly recommend it if you ever go.
