Cremona
Food Tradition
CHOCOLATE
History:
Initially, chocolate came to Europe as a medicine.
The real recipe of sweet chocolate has to be attributed to the Mexican nuns who added honey and vanilla to make its taste more pleasant; this custom was later sent to Spain in 1590.
In 1606 the Italian Carletti, who had come in contact with the drink during his commercial travels, decided to spread the recipe to allow all his countrymen its use; by this time it triggered a craze and throughout Italy the first chocolatiers began to appear. From Italy then the chocolate spread to Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
Until 1900 the chocolate was a luxury only for the wealthiest classes due to the high prices of cocoa and sugar which are the main ingredients for the preparation of chocolate, then in the twentieth century there was a collapse in the price of these substances, this made the cocoa and then the chocolate within the reach of an increasing number of people.
DEPENDENCE: a kind of addiction can derive from the repeated consumption of chocolate, jokingly called "cioccolatismo".
GOOD MOOD: Chocolate, when taken, releases endorphins that cause good humor and thanks to the release of other substances decreases the phenomenon of depression.
HEART: Eating chocolate has also beneficial effects on the heart, as INRAN (National Institute for Research on Food and Nutrition) established
NERVOUS SYSTEM: The antioxidants present in chocolate act as protection on neurons.
There are also some negative beliefs about chocolate, such as causing obesity, acne, migraines or damage to the teeth; all these beliefs have been discredited by the scientific research that has demonstrated their inaccuracy.
Swiss chocolate?
Who said that only Swiss chocolate is good?
Cremona boasts of prestigious names in the chocolate production.
Sperlari, Vergani, Witor's, Wal-cor are the highlight of the "sweet Cremona".
Nougat usually comes to the mind of who thinks about our city, but in reality these companies are also large producers and exporters of chocolate.
Just think that Vergani’s chocolate production represents more than 50% total of its turnover, despite being new in this sector.
The traditional figure of speech talks about the "3T" in Cremona, but we add two "C" of Chocolate of Cremona!
Good reading to the discovery of our master chocolatiers!
History:
In 1836 Enea Sperlari opened in the heart of Cremona a shop for the craft production of typical Cremonese nougat, mustard and chocolate. Due to its success, at the end of the century the brand Sperlari was known also abroad, even in the American continent. In 1950 Sperlari introduced in its production also candies. In the 60s, candies became a real gift item and so Sperlari marketed the famous casket Sperlari, an absolute novelty which reached the milestone of 8 million caskets sold per year. In 2011 pralines, delicious chocolates, were born and conquered Italians. Due to its history, today Sperlari can count on a consolidated image, expression of the guiding values ​​which have always characterized its work: tradition, quality, prestige, goodness and attention to the consumer.
Main products: Nougat, Mustard, Pralines, Candies.
History:
Walcor’s company was founded in 1954 by Walter Corsanini. It finds its roots in a small craft workshop specialized in chocolate coins, empty subjects and easter eggs. Increasing success has led the company to move from the small craft workshop to the city center in an industrial area in Pozzaglio Ed Uniti, expanding itself on an area of ​​80 thousand square meters.Walcor is specialised in private label productions: it has the production capacity of a multinational, it serves the largest italian and foreign retail chains. Walcor is present all over the world: Europe, Asia, Arabian countries and Japan, from Austria to New Zealand and America. Walcor’s company is a world leader in the production of chocolate coins. In Italy it has 70% of market share. Walcor is the first Italian producer of easter eggs with the possibility of customization of the wrapping, the surprise and the packaging. Walcor is the leading producer of easter eggs all hand decorated with natural dyes.
Main products: Easter Eggs (personalized and decorated by hand), Chocolate Coins, Chocolate Bars.
History:
The company was founded in 1959 by Roberto Bonetti, who opened the first chocolate workshop in Cremona.
In 1962 Witor's created the Boer, an original relationship between extra-dark chocolate, cherries and liqueur.
In 1973, the opening of the new company of Corte de 'Frati marked the transition from artisanal to industrial production; then there was also the acquisition of new establishments in Gorizia.
In 2000 Witor's became a player in the global market, with the presence in over 70 countries and exports amounting to 50% of production.
In 2012 the opening of the first flagship store Witor's took place at the Franciacorta Outlet Village in Rodengo Saiano (BS).
Tthe invention of the Boer is credited to Witor's.
Main products: Boero, Drops, Bars of white, milk. fudge, stracciatella chocolate.
History:
The company Vergani was initially founded to produce nougat, which was born in 1441 for the celebration of the wedding between Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza. In the '800 in Cremona, in many grocery stores, nougat was produced and Secondo Vergani, founder of the company, had been working in a grocery store in Porta Venezia. In 1881 he bought the store devoting himself mainly to the production of nougat. In the following years, the company Vergani was consolidated considerably and in 1930 the new factory was inaugurated, where he continues the production company.
As said before, the company Vergani, was born for the production of nougat and only later was extended to include the sectors of chocolate and marron glaces. About the chocolate, the production is specialized on filled pralines, Boers and Gianduiotti, besides the production of Easter eggs.
Main products: Boeri, Gianduiotti, Nougat, Mustard.