6 Italian Products to add to your Antipasti Platter

Things are starting to look up, and it’s as if we can already taste the salty air of the Mediterranean, dreaming of the warm sun on our backs and a crisp glass of wine in our hands. Whilst we may not quite be jetting off to exotic European destinations just yet, we at The Artisan Food Company want to bring the flavours of far-off cuisines to your doorstep. And where better to start than the celebrated food of Italy?

In our World Gourmet Food category, you’ll find products that are expertly crafted by small artisan producers across Europe, guaranteeing the freshness, provenance, and authenticity of your food: and our Italian Gourmet Foods is no different! From delicious Leccino olives to traditional Venetian cicchetti, our range of Italian antipasti products will allow you to enjoy the perfect evening aperitivo from the comfort of your home. Read on to discover our top 6 Italian products to add to your antipasti platter!

1. Italian Olive Oil

Many regard Italian olives as the world’s finest, owing to several factors. These olives thrive in diverse regions across Italy, each characterised by its specific climate and soil makeup. This diversity enables the cultivation of various olive varieties, each boasting a unique flavour profile. Noteworthy among the best Italian olives are the nocellara green olives and black leccino olives, distinguished by their exceptional taste. Whether you lean towards the mild and buttery or bold and robust, the extensive array of Italian olives ensures there’s a variety to match your palate.

2. Sicilian Arancini with Sauce

Among the top Italian finger snacks are Italian crisps and Italian taralli, both esteemed for their distinctive flavours and textures. Italian crisps are slender, crispy, and savoury treats available in diverse flavours like tomato and basil, rosemary, and olive oil. Crafted from premium ingredients such as Italian flour, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt, these crisps boast a unique, satisfying flavour profile.

3. Gragnano Pasta

Gragnano pasta, a traditional Italian pasta hailing from the town of Gragnano in the southern Campania region, is esteemed for its exceptional quality ingredients, distinctive flavour, and artisanal crafting techniques.

A key feature of Gragnano pasta lies in the utilization of high-grade durum wheat semolina, renowned for its elevated protein content, making it an ideal choice for pasta production.

Furthermore, the durum wheat employed in Gragnano pasta is cultivated in the fertile soil of the Campania region, imparting a unique flavour and aroma to the pasta.

The artisanal production of Gragnano pasta involves time-honored techniques passed down through generations of Italian pasta makers, adding to its distinctive character.

4. Italian Salami

Regarded as the finest salami globally, Italian salami stands out for multiple reasons, primarily owing to its exceptional quality and distinctive flavour profile. Key among these factors is the traditional approach embraced by Italian salami artisans. Numerous small, family-owned enterprises take great pride in crafting premium salami, adhering to time-honored recipes and techniques passed down through generations.

This entails meticulous selection of superior meat cuts, precision grinding to achieve the ideal consistency, and the incorporation of a meticulously balanced blend of spices and seasonings.

5. Italian Chocolate

Renowned for their opulent taste and superior quality, Italian chocolates have earned global acclaim as a delicacy cherished by chocolate enthusiasts.

Several factors contribute to the esteemed reputation of Italian chocolates. Foremost, Italian chocolatiers exclusively employ the finest ingredients in their chocolate crafting. They meticulously source top-tier cocoa beans from countries like Ghana, Ecuador, and Venezuela, subjecting them to careful selection, roasting, and grinding to achieve a nuanced and rich flavour profile.

Additionally, Italian chocolate artisans enhance their creations with natural ingredients like vanilla, hazelnuts, and almonds, imparting depth and complexity to produce the finest Italian chocolates.

6. Italian Grissini

Italian grissini, commonly referred to as breadsticks, represent a type of crispy and crunchy bread originating from the Piedmont region of Italy. Renowned for their elongated, slender form and delectable savoury taste, Italian grissini boast several outstanding qualities, contributing to their recognition as the finest breadsticks globally.

These breadsticks are characterised by their thinness and crispiness, offering a gratifying crunch that renders them ideal for both snacking and dipping. The distinctive texture of grissini is achieved through a double-baking process, imparting them with their signature crunchiness.