Italian olive oils

Olive oil is an essential ingredient in every Italian kitchen, so this month we put seven golden samples of extra-virgin olive oil under the Italia! taste team spotlight… Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the most important ingredients in the Mediterranean diet. It is renowned for its health-giving properties, being low in unsaturated fat and […]

Italian Chocolate

This month, we put some fine Italian chocolate treats to the test – well, it’s a difficult job but someone has to do it… Over the last few decades, Italy has established itself as one of the leading nations worldwide for the production of fine chocolate, making significant inroads, primarily in the gourmet market. Our […]

Top 6 Italian Salami Brands

Whether eaten on its own as a snack, or with a selection of other meats and vegetables as part of an antipasto to share, salami is yet another classic Italian favourite… Go on, for instance, a wine-tasting tour of any Italian region and there’s sure to be one constant: wherever you go you’ll be served some […]

Best Honey

Bears might be particularly well known for loving honey, but so do we. Italia! puts some fine examples of liquid gold to the taste test. It’s time for something sweet… Honey always seemed a quintessentially British ingredient as a child, whether as the adorable Winnie the Pooh’s ‘drug’ of choice, or because of the way […]

Best Green Pesto

When it comes to store cupboard stand ins, they don’t come more handy than a trusty jar of green basil pesto. Italia! put a selection of the classic sauce to the test There are countless classic basil pestos available on our supermarket shelves, but there are many variations on the authentic recipe on offer too. The […]

Panettone Review

A good panettone can make Christmas in an Italian household. Notoriously difficult to make at home, most are bought ready made. We taste some high street examples… Whether you consider panettone to be a cake or a bread – strictly speaking it’s a sweet bread – the origin of this traditional Christmas and New Year’s […]

Olive Oil Review

It has been reputedly used since 6,000BC, and originates from Greece and ancient Asia Minor, but what of the modern-day oils on offer? Italia! selects seven of the best… We all use olive on a virtually daily basis. It’s become a staple in the kitchens of everyone who loves all things Italian. Arguments will rage […]

Jarred & Preserved Vegetables Review

Antipasti are a way of life in Italy, and an essential aspect of the nation’s favourite first course of any meal is preserved vegetables. Here we present a selection from the UK high street. Go to any restaurant in Italy and you’ll be provided with the option (and who could turn it down?) of a […]

Easter Treats Review

Easter is very nearly upon us, and the festival of Pasqua is serious business in Italy, with parades and processions throughout the country. Though it’s also a time for sweet treats and, of course, chocolate… Easter wouldn’t be Pasqua without chocolate. The celebration of the resurrection of Christ goes hand in hand with everyone’s favourite […]

Parma Ham Review

It’s among the most prized of sliced, cured meats in the world. Parma ham is always a delight, but how do pre-sliced supermarket-packaged hams fare? Italia! investigates… Truth be told, if you want the very best Parma ham then you’re likely going to find it on the bone, sliced to order, at a local deli […]