Pistachio paste is a variation of the much more traditional Sicilian almond paste. They are an ideal gift, but also fantastic to keep at home to sweeten any moment of the day.
They originated as a variation of almond paste, so there are numerous schools of thought regarding the presence of almond:
- Without almond
(100% pistachio)
i.e., pure pistachio paste - With a little almond
(e.g., 90% pistachio and 10% almond)
i.e., pistachio paste flavored with a bit of almond - With a lot of almond
(e.g., 20% pistachio and 80% almond)
i.e., almond paste flavored with a bit of pistachio
The third category includes most of the commercial products you find at the supermarket, but unfortunately also many products found in "typical" bars. Sometimes sold as "pistachio paste" (a term I consider improper), other times as "pistachio-flavored almond paste" (more accurate). In the best-case scenario, the pistachio flavor is only vaguely hinted at, but in many other cases, they are simply artificially colored and flavored almond paste.
We will therefore ignore the third category and focus on the first two, because we are interested in tasting the flavor of the pistachio!
PISTACHIO PASTE WITHOUT ALMOND
Let's discover my favorite pistachio paste, among those that are totally pistachio. Ideal for unleashing all their flavor!
Caffè Galaxy (Bronte)
9.0/10
Very intense pistachio flavor both inside and out. The external chopped pistachio is fantastic, crunchy, and tasty. Well-balanced sugar. You can find them in Bronte or on their website.
Bar Sport (Bronte)
9.0/10
Very intense pistachio flavor. They are characterized by a particularly soft interior, surely thanks to the amount of honey. Well-balanced sweetness. You can find them in Bronte.
Evergreen (Bronte)
9.0/10
Very intense pistachio flavor inside, thanks to the quality of Evergreen's Bronte pistachio DOP. The exterior is not chopped, but covered in a delicate layer of powdered sugar, which resembles the appearance of classic almond paste. You can find them in Bronte or on their website.
DISCOUNT CODE: pistacchissimo (to be used on the Evergreen website)
Cordialbar (Bronte)
9.0/10
In the photo, you see the chopped version, but in the package, you will also find the more classic version with powdered sugar on the outside. Both have an intense and natural pistachio flavor. In the chopped version, you get the added taste and crunch of the external bits, which I find extremely delightful. A special mention for the sweetness, which is not too pronounced. The very delicate vanilla aroma is also well-balanced. You can find them in Bronte or on their website.
DISCOUNT CODE: PISTACCHISSIMO10 (to be used on the Cordialbar website)
Tomarchio (Catania)
9.0/10
Excellent pistachio flavor inside and an abundant covering of crunchy whole pistachios. The quality of the pistachios is good, and the final taste is excellent. The sugar is not intrusive and is well-balanced. Ideal if you are in Catania, near a Tomarchio shop, but you can also find them online. The cost is significant.
Novè (Taormina)
9.0/10
Excellent pistachio flavor inside, intense just right. The covering is mixed; some have a bit of chopped pistachio, some have a whole pistachio, others are plain. Well-balanced sugar. Ideal if you are in Taormina!
ChocoFusion (Catania)
7.0/10
Good balance between pistachio and almond, which offers a characteristic note but does not excessively cover the pistachio. The external chopped bits provide a pleasant touch of crunch. This is undoubtedly a good option if you are looking for pistachio paste in Catania.
