Definitely above the average for packaged pistachio ice cream!
I tried the new Sammontana pistachio ice cream bars, which are part of the "GRUVI" line.
You can find them in major supermarkets all over Italy, and obviously, I couldn't miss the chance to find out if they really tasted like pistachio after a launch that made quite a lot of noise!
In the video below, you'll find the tasting and review:
The verdict in short: they are definitely above the average for packaged pistachio ice cream!
Coated in white pistachio chocolate, with chopped pistachios and crumbled cookie bits. The percentage of pistachio in the glaze isn't very high (5%), so you don't taste it much, and the same goes for the chopped nuts (4%). The cookie prevails, which provides a great crunch (definitely delicious).
Inside, the ice cream is vanilla, swirled with a pistachio cream where the pistachio percentage is 15%. The green color is quite convincing and the pistachio flavor comes through! Even though the swirl isn't very abundant, it manages to flavor almost every bite, making the pistachio taste quite present.
The concept reminds me of the "Delizia al Pistacchio" barattolino and it works very well!
Obviously, it doesn't reach high levels of intensity like some of the best artisanal gelatos, but it's still an excellent compromise for a packaged ice cream (even in relation to the price)! Definitely superior to the average packaged ice cream, and honestly, even better than many artisanal gelatos that are decidedly lacking in pistachio.
Kudos to Sammontana, they really hit the mark this time!
