Chocolate and Matcha Tea Almonds - La Fattoria Della Mandorla
The Chocolate and Matcha Tea Almonds introduce a new and elegant flavour harmony to the world of artisanal confectionery, created with originality by La Fattoria della Mandorla. This historic company manages a short and entirely organic supply chain in Toritto, an outstanding area at the foot of the Alta Murgia National Park. The choice to place the native Filippo Cea cultivar at the heart of production, renowned throughout the gastronomic world for its generous shape and rich aromatic profile, meets here the aromatic intensity of matcha tea and the enveloping character of chocolate, creating a confection designed for discerning and curious palates.
The processing method follows meticulous steps to preserve the purity and intensity of each individual ingredient. After harvesting and selection, the organic almonds undergo controlled thermal roasting, an essential technique for developing a light, golden texture while releasing the almond's natural essential oils. The almonds are then placed in traditional confectionery coating pans, where they are covered with a carefully calibrated layer of selected chocolate, expertly blended with finely ground organic matcha tea powder. This slow coating process ensures a smooth shell, free from artificial colourings or flavourings, and a precise balance of proportions, preventing the vegetal component from overpowering the delicacy of the almond.
An interesting fact about the Filippo Cea cultivar lies in its history: the mother tree was identified in the early 20th century in the Toritto area and has since been regarded as a heritage of biodiversity to be preserved and passed down through generations. From an organoleptic perspective, this coated speciality offers a perfect flavour balance: upon tasting, the pleasantly bitter, herbaceous and refreshing notes of matcha tea immediately blend with the enveloping roundness of chocolate, finally giving way to the persistent, buttery underlying sweetness of the roasted almond. This dynamic interaction stimulates the palate in a clean and elegant way, without becoming cloying.
In the culinary world, the versatility of this gourmet dragée is extraordinary and surprising. It is perfect to enjoy on its own as a sophisticated after-dinner treat, offering an original combination of flavours and a striking colour effect to share during convivial occasions. In home baking and creative pastry-making, these pralines can be used whole to decorate modern cakes, semifreddo desserts and spoonable mousses. Finely chopped with a knife, they become an exceptional contrasting element for finishing cups of artisanal ice cream, delicate puddings, or for accompanying a cup of premium tea or a fine after-dinner spirit.
