What is the best hazelnut cream? Look at the brand that surpassed Nutella

Nutella and 10 other brands were tested by a specialized jury

Hazelnut cream with chocolate is a sweet that few can resist. Spoon by spoon, you can finish a jar in no time. True or not? In restaurants, bakeries, ice cream parlors, pastry shops and snack bars, it is relatively easy to find everything from brigadeiro to ice cream, pancakes, waffles and even the invincible grilled bread topped with millions of cream.

Originally from Italy, hazelnut cream became famous throughout the world in the 1960s. The wave of consumption of the dessert in Brazil, however, only strengthened at the beginning of the 2000s. Today it is possible to choose your favorite version in supermarkets or chocolate shops. The basic recipe uses hazelnuts, cocoa, milk and sugar. Some brands are oilier than others and the consistency of the product also varies a lot. What you expect from a good hazelnut cream is a consistent product, with a velvety creaminess, well-balanced in sugars, with a flavor and aroma that recall the main ingredient of the recipe.

To evaluate 11 brands available on the market, Paladar invited a team of experts: chef Rafael Barros, from Ópera Ganhache; the cook Fernanda Pittelkow, from Cozinha Sem Vergonha; the businessman and chef Chico Ferreira, of Le Jazz Boulangerie, and the businessman and chef Leonardo Borges, of the Flakes patisserie.

The blind test was carried out at Le Jazz Boulangerie, in the Pinheiros neighbourhood. And the judges’ mission was to discover, without the influence of brands and packaging, which product offered the best combination of flavour, aroma, appearance and creaminess. As well as giving your opinion on all the brands tested. You can see the result below.

The best brands of hazelnut cream

1. Miroh
2. Nutella
3. Slack show La Nut / Cacau

The 11 points of the judges’ judgment, in alphabetical order

Field walnut

The hazelnut cream had, in the judges’ opinion, a synthetic aroma, a sandy consistency, no hazelnut flavor and rather sweet (R$ 7.90, 140 g)

Casino

Product with an intense and sweet flavour, fatty appearance and little hazelnut aroma (R$ 25.29, 350 g)

Day

The hazelnut cream from the supermarket chain was considered to have a balanced flavor and a pleasant texture as it is quite thick. Lacked a little in terms of nutty flavor and aroma (R$19.29, 350g)

Work on it

The hazelnut cream had a more liquid consistency than the others and with the presence of some granules. Flavor and aroma were considered delicate (R$ 36, 150 g)

Flormel

Flormel The only sugar-free product on the list left something to be desired in terms of texture, with a clear separation between the cream and the fat layer. The positive point was that it tasted less sweet than the others. The aroma of the product is closer to vanilla and almond than to hazelnut (R$ 20.49, 150 g)

Entertainment La Nut Slack/Cacau

The product pleased the judges as it had a slightly more bitter chocolate flavor than the others. The firm and creamy texture also helped the hazelnut cream take third place in the Taste ranking (R$ 32.90, 315 g)

Lindt

The hazelnut cream from the famous chocolate brand had, according to the judges, a slightly bitter taste and a darker appearance than the other products tested. A very sweet product, with a very present chocolate flavor and a little hazelnut (R$ 78.07, 200 g)

Miroh!

The big winner of the Paladar Seal was rated as a product with exceptional flavor, well balanced in sugar, with a creamy and velvety texture (R$ 34, 180 g)

Peanut

The hazelnut cream imported from Italy left something to be desired in terms of artificial flavour, more reminiscent of chocolate than hazelnut. It was also considered one of the sweetest and had a sandy texture (R$ 38.80, 400 g)

Nutella

The product that has become synonymous with hazelnut cream ranked on our podium. It was rated by the judges as very creamy, shiny and attractive looking. The aroma and flavor of the cream were also approved with flying colours. However, it could be a little less sweet… (R$ 23.90, 350 g)

Super vegan

The vegan product, made from rice milk, did not satisfy the judges in terms of flavour. The hazelnut cream was judged to be rather fatty, very sweet and with an unappealing consistency (R$ 38.20, 350 g)

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Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.