Nutella, the hazelnut chocolate spread that has become one of the most-craved food specialties in the world, is the same creamy mix of hazelnut and cocoa found in Ferrero Rocher chocolates!
Nutella was invented in 1944 by Ferrero company founder Pietro Ferrero in the back of his pastry shop in northern Italy. Created from an experiment of hazelnuts and cocoa in an attempt to prolong the chocolate supply at the height of World War II rationing, Ferrero's wanted to make an inexpensive breakfast treat that could be sliced and be placed on bread for sandwiches.
When Ferrero discovered children throwing away the bread and eating only the chocolate treat inside, he altered his recipe into a spreadable, creamy paste consisting of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk, and cocoa.
The spread was renamed from it's Italian "Supercrema gianduja" to Nutella in 1963 as part of a worldwide marketing campaign, but it wasn't until 1983 that the product was imported to the United States.
Nutella was an instant success in the United States and is produced in manufacturing facilities worldwide. The spread is so celebrated that February 5 is designated as World Nutella Day.
