Turin is, quite simply, the chocolate capital of Italy. Long before anywhere else in the country, this elegant northern city was melting, moulding and perfecting cocoa — and it is still where some of the world’s finest chocolate is made today. If you love chocolate even a little, Turin will feel a dream come true.
On my own visits I came home with a suitcase that rattled with foil-wrapped treasures. In this guide I will walk you through Turin’s most famous chocolate specialties, the historic shops worth seeking out, and — because not everyone can hop on a plane — how to order the very same treats online so you can enjoy a taste of Turin at home.
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Why Turin Became Italy’s Chocolate Capital
Turin’s love affair with chocolate goes back to the royal House of Savoy in the 16th century, when hot chocolate became the drink of the aristocracy. By the 1800s the city was a chocolate powerhouse, producing tonnes of it every year and even exporting the craft to Switzerland.
The city’s signature invention was born of necessity. During the Napoleonic blockade of the early 19th century, cocoa became scarce and expensive, so Turin’s clever chocolatiers stretched it using something they had in abundance: the prized Tonda Gentile hazelnuts of the surrounding Piedmont hills. The result was gianduja — a silky blend of chocolate and hazelnut that the world has adored ever since.
Turin Chocolate Specialties to Know
Before you shop, here are the sweets that make Turin special. Knowing the names makes browsing the shop windows — and the online listings — far more fun:
- Gianduiotto — the famous foil-wrapped, ingot-shaped chocolate of smooth gianduja. Created by Caffarel and named after Gianduja, Turin’s carnival mask. This is the one to try first.
- Gianduja cream — a spoonable hazelnut-chocolate spread, the elegant ancestor of every hazelnut spread you have ever tasted.
- Cremino — a layered cube of gianduja, often with a thin seam of coffee or lemon paste in the middle.
- Cri-cri — a whole hazelnut wrapped in chocolate, then rolled in tiny coloured sugar pearls.
- Nocciolini di Chivasso — tiny, airy hazelnut meringue beads.
- Marron glacé — candied chestnuts, a Piedmont autumn treat of pure decadence.
- Tonda Gentile hazelnuts — the local hero nut, wonderful even on their own.
The Best Chocolate Shops & Cafés in Turin
Part of the joy is buying chocolate where it is made. These are the names I would steer any first-time visitor toward:
Baratti & Milano
My personal favourite. Founded in 1873 inside the glittering Galleria Subalpina, its glass cabinets are a jewel box of gianduiotti, cremini and beautifully boxed gift selections. A little pricey, worth every cent.
Guido Gobino
A modern master beloved by chocolate purists, famous for his refined Tourinot mini-gianduiotti. If you want serious, contemporary Turin chocolate, this is it.
Venchi
Founded in Turin in 1878 and now known worldwide, Venchi is a reliable, gorgeous place to stock up on gianduiotti and chocolate-covered hazelnuts at every price point.
Not heading to Turin just yet? The good news is that Venchi’s famous gianduiotti and chocolate-covered hazelnuts are also available online, so you can treat yourself to a taste of Italy at home. Browse Venchi Italian chocolate on Amazon.
Peyrano, Stratta & Gerla 1927
Peyrano is a revered old-school chocolatier; Stratta is a stunning historic confectioner on Piazza San Carlo; and Gerla 1927 is a pastry-and-chocolate paradise on Corso Vittorio. All three are a treat for the eyes as much as the palate.
What to Buy — And How to Order It at Home
Here is the wonderful part: many of Turin’s most famous chocolates ship beautifully and are available online, so you can enjoy them long after your trip — or treat yourself even if Turin is still on your wish list. These make exceptional gifts, too.
🍫 Classic Gianduiotti
Start here. Authentic foil-wrapped Piedmontese gianduiotti in a gift box — the true taste of Turin.
👉 Shop Gianduiotti on Amazon →
🍫 Venchi Italian Chocolate
Can’t visit Turin in person? Bring home Venchi — a beloved Piedmontese chocolate house whose silky gianduja captures the hazelnut flavour the city is famous for.
👉 Shop Venchi Italian Chocolate on Amazon →
🥄 Gianduja Hazelnut Cream
The elegant spoonable spread that started it all — glorious on bread, brioche or straight from the jar.
👉 Shop on Amazon →
🍫 Nutella — Gianduja’s World-Famous Heir
The beloved hazelnut spread born from Turin’s gianduja tradition — a little taste of Piedmont in every jar.
👉 Shop Nutella on Amazon →
🍬 Cremini Assortment
Layered gianduja cubes, often with a coffee or lemon centre — a true Turin classic.
👉 Shop Cremini on Amazon →
🌰 Piedmont Tonda Gentile Hazelnuts
The local hero nut behind every gianduiotto — lovely for baking or snacking.
👉 Shop Piedmont Hazelnuts on Amazon →
🍫 Explore More Italian Chocolate
Browse a wider world of Italian chocolate — truffles, pralines, beautiful gift boxes:
👉 Shop Italian Chocolate on Amazon →
🍬 A Taste of Italy’s Sweets
Love Italian treats of every kind? Discover classic Italian sweets to gift or savour at home:
👉 Shop Italian Sweets on Amazon →
Don’t Forget the Bicerin
Turin’s other great chocolate treasure is a drink: the bicerin, a warming layered glass of espresso, thick drinking chocolate and cream. You sip it without stirring, so each layer arrives in turn. You can recreate the chocolate base at home with a good Italian-style thick hot chocolate.
☕ Italian Thick Drinking Chocolate
Make your own bicerin at home — rich, spoon-coating Italian hot chocolate is the secret.
👉 Shop Drinking Chocolate on Amazon →
Take a Turin Chocolate Tour
If you want a local to lead the way — and to taste far more than you could find alone — a guided chocolate or food tour is a joy. You will visit historic shops, taste gianduiotti at the source, and hear the stories behind each one.
🍫 Browse Turin chocolate & food tours on Viator →
Frequently Asked Questions
What chocolate is Turin famous for?
Gianduiotto — a smooth, ingot-shaped chocolate made from gianduja, a blend of chocolate and local Piedmont hazelnuts. Turin is also famous for the bicerin, its layered chocolate-and-coffee drink.
What is the difference between gianduja and gianduiotto?
Gianduja is the hazelnut-chocolate paste; the gianduiotto is the famous individual foil-wrapped chocolate moulded from it.
Can I buy Turin chocolate online?
Yes. Gianduiotti, gianduja cream, cremini and even Baratti & Milano chocolates are all available online, so you can enjoy authentic Turin treats wherever you are.
What is the best chocolate souvenir from Turin?
A boxed selection of gianduiotti is the classic choice — beautiful, authentic, and easy to pack. A jar of gianduja cream is a lovely, affordable second.
Final Thoughts
Turin wears its chocolate history with quiet pride, and tasting your way through the city is one of the most delicious things you can do in Italy. Whether you are wandering its arcades in person or ordering a box to your door, a little gianduja goes a long way toward bringing the elegance of Turin into your everyday.
Planning the rest of your visit? Don’t miss my companion guide: Turin’s Historic Cafés: A Coffee Lover’s Guide.