In this article, we will try to answer a question we have been asked many times: What is the best Italian pasta? Let’s start from a firm point: the brands we will talk about are absolutely the best on the market. Strictly made in Italy, they are known and appreciated by Italian and foreign consumers. They fill the shelves of supermarkets in Italy and are also highly sought-after abroad.
Best Italian pasta: Domestic consumption and exports are on the rise
It is no coincidence, in fact, that Italy is the main producer and exporter of pasta in the world. In our country, over 62% of the population consumes pasta every day. In the year just ended, despite the serious health emergency, the value of exports reached € 2.6 billion, with an increase of over 7% in 2019. The markets in which the best performances for Italian pasta were recorded are Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the USA, and Japan.
How to recognize the best Italian pasta
Identifying the best Italian pasta is not difficult. For starters, you can do a little home test. Just pour the pasta into a container with water at room temperature and check it after a couple of hours. Has the pasta remained compact, without releasing too much starch into the water? If that happens, the quality is excellent.
Another reliable indicator is the protein content. If it is between 12.5% and 15% it means that the semolina used is good. Normally this information is not shown on the labels, but it is sufficient to check, in the nutritional values, how many grams of protein there are per 100 g of product.
If the pasta is bronze-drawn, it will have better cooking resistance; moreover, the higher roughness will allow it to retain the sauce better.
Also: the drying at low temperatures (often mentioned on the labels) influences both the physical characteristics of the product (for example the color, more similar to that of wheat), and the nutritional ones, and assures better cooking resistance.
Pasta from Italy: Bell Italia’s opinion
On the basis of what criteria, then, did we choose the best Italian pasta for your supermarket abroad? We focused on three main elements:
- quality (protein index, 100% Italian wheat, bronze drawing, drying temperature, etc.);
- the appeal of the label (graphics and colors, presence of foreign languages, brand popularity);
- assortment (dies available, particular variants).
Are you ready to discover the best Italian pasta? Don’t let it be missing in your supermarket! Wherever you are in the world, Bell Italia will guarantee you the best prices on the market and fast, perfect deliveries. Let’s start!
10- Divella: Best Italian Pasta
Among pasta brands, Divella, originating from Puglia, has become an icon in our country and enjoys significant fame on the international stage as well. This brand is recognized and appreciated all around the world. Divella pasta offers twelve different shapes, all characterized by bronze extrusion. This process imparts a porous texture to the pasta, allowing the sauce to adhere optimally.
Bronze-extruded pasta is made from high-quality durum wheat semolina and water. Thanks to the bronze extrusion and slow drying process, the pasta takes on a distinctive shape and a rough surface that holds sauces well. Some of the formats of Divella pasta include:
- Spaghettoni
- Restaurant-style spaghetti
- Squared pasta (squadretti)
- Linguine
- Rigatoni
- Helical pasta (elicoidali)
- Ridged penne ziti
- Fusilli
- Neapolitan paccheri
The protein content of Divella Pasta is 13%, ensuring a nutritious and flavorful product. The semolinas used in its production come from both the European Union and countries outside the EU, providing a diverse selection of quality ingredients.
The label of Divella Pasta features a representative design, though it might appear somewhat dated. However, it’s important to emphasize that the label is multilingual, enabling an international audience to understand essential product information.
A notable aspect of Divella Pasta is the wide assortment of available shapes. You can find the perfect Divella pasta for every type of dish, whether you’re cooking a traditional meal or experimenting with new recipes. The extensive range of shapes allows you to create original and tasty dishes.
Check out our offer for Divella Pasta Italiana
9- Barilla Pasta: Pasta Brand from Italy
The Barilla Pasta brand stands as a true symbol of ‘made in Italy’ across the globe. Recently, it has undergone a refreshed look, featuring a sky-blue label that stands out. For about a year now, Barilla Pasta has been exclusively produced using 100% Italian wheat, thereby reinforcing an even stronger connection with the culinary traditions of our country.
Despite its relatively lower protein content compared to its main competitors, at 12.8%, the range of formats offered is incredibly diverse. In fact, Barilla boasts seven patented and exclusive formats, as we’ve already covered in our article on 5 intriguing facts about Italian pasta.
The label of Barilla Pasta sets itself apart by being entirely Italian, thereby maintaining a strong link to the brand’s Italian origins. It’s worth emphasizing that Barilla Pasta offers an appealing price, considering its widespread availability worldwide.
A closer examination of the Barilla Brand assortment reveals various product categories. Under “Pasta by Shape,” you’ll find classic long and short pasta, suitable for light or creamy sauces as well as rich ragù and hearty sauces. For kids, there are “piccolini,” quick-cooking formats. For those who cherish tradition, there are Emilian specialties. And for those following a gluten-free diet, there’s the “Senza Glutine” (Gluten-Free) line. Additionally, Barilla offers pasta made from legumes, both in the form of small legumes and larger ones, with 100% legume flour processed into grains.
Egg specialties provide a delightful experience, with formats like lasagne and cannelloni for special occasions, oval and round nests with a rough and substantial texture, and egg pastine perfect for flavorful soups and broths. Stuffed egg pasta offers a delicious filling encased in a flavorful dough.
Barilla has the ability to satisfy every palate and culinary need, offering an extensive range of formats for every occasion. The quality of Italian wheat and the commitment to preserving Italian culinary traditions make Barilla Pasta an ideal choice for anyone looking to savor authentic Italian Pasta.
Discover Bell Italia’s Barilla Pasta offer here.
8- De Cecco: Best Dried Pasta Brand
De Cecco Pasta holds the eighth position among the best-dried pasta brands featured on our list of top Italian pasta choices. This historic brand is loved and appreciated not only in Italy but also internationally. What makes Pasta De Cecco so special is its high protein content, reaching 14%, bronze drawing, and the method of slow drying. The latter was invented by Filippo De Cecco back in 1889, as attested in the prestigious Enciclopedia Treccani.
Another distinctive element of De Cecco Pasta is the excellent quality water used in the dough, sourced from the Majella mountains. The semolina used is obtained from selected grains sourced both from Europe and beyond. While one might expect a symbol of our country to be made exclusively from 100% Italian wheat, De Cecco pasta still offers high quality.
The De Cecco label is significant and representative, albeit somewhat dated, and contains only Italian text. The range of available formats is wide, providing many options to cater to all tastes. However, it’s important to note that the price of De Cecco is slightly higher compared to its competitors.
Despite the slightly higher price, it’s a choice worth considering for quality pasta enthusiasts. Its history, attention to detail during production, and extensive assortment make it a favored choice for many. Whether you’re looking for pasta for a special dish or simply want to enjoy a traditional Italian pasta meal, De Cecco will meet your expectations.
In addition to semolina pasta, De Cecco offers a variety of other options to please all palates. De Cecco Egg Pasta, made with fresh Grade A eggs and high-quality semolina, ensures an authentic flavor and perfect texture. For those following a gluten-free diet, there’s a dedicated line that maintains the same quality and delicious taste.
De Cecco’s Special Pastas offers a wide range of high-quality products to satisfy even the most particular culinary needs. Experiment with new flavors and prepare unique recipes using these special pastas. For those seeking more nutritious options, De Cecco’s 7 Cereals Pasta is an excellent choice due to its richness in fiber, protein, and phosphorus.
De Cecco’s Whole Wheat Pasta line, obtained from their Mill, is perfect for those wanting a fiber-rich diet without sacrificing taste. If you’re conscious of organic farming, the Bio De Cecco line is tailor-made for you, obtained using natural methods and adhering to European organic farming standards.
Wide assortment, but the price is higher than its competitors. Take a look at our promotion De Cecco Pasta here!
7- Pasta Delverde
In seventh place is Pasta Delverde. We are talking about a high-quality product that is gaining more and more consensus both in our country and abroad. Delverde Pasta is produced with selected wheat from all over the world. It has a high protein content (14%) and is bronze-drawn. The manufacturing process is characterized by slow drying and low cooking temperatures. But the real added value is the water used: it comes from the Verde River, which flows near the factory and arrives at the pasta factory without undergoing any treatment.
Low mineral water with low mineral content, perfect for producing high-quality pasta. The beautiful label was recently renewed and with information in several foreign languages. Watch our video on YouTube: 5 VERY POPULAR ITALIAN PASTA BRANDS WORLDWIDE
6- Liguori Pasta di Gragnano IGP: Best Dried Pasta from Italy
Pastificio Liguori is one of the oldest pasta factories in Italy. It was founded in Gragnano in 1795. Liguori was the first pasta from Italy producer to obtain the I.G.P. Certification. In the last ten years, Pastificio Liguori has established itself as one of the major players at the national and international levels. It is present in 40 countries around the world, including the USA, Japan, China, Australia, and Brazil.
Liguori pasta is made with the best hard grains of southern Italy and with the purest water of the Monti Lattari Regional Park. It is a spring water with particular chemical-physical characteristics, which gives Liguori Pasta a unique, unmistakable taste. This pasta also has a very high protein content: 14.5%. It is a bronze-drawn pasta subjected to a process of slow drying.
Its look, renewed in 2019, is beautiful. The packaging, entirely made of recyclable paper, is multilingual; therefore, it makes this pasta ready for the shelves of your supermarket abroad.
Click here to know our offer on Pastificio Liguori
5- Granoro Dedicato: Best Italian dry Pasta
Granoro Dedicato ranks fifth in our special ranking. This Italian dried pasta is made with 100% wheat grown in Puglia, the land of Italy’s finest durum wheat. Granoro Dedicato uses high-quality coarse semolina, with a high gluten content and a protein percentage of 13%. Moreover, the pure water used comes from the springs of Caposele and Cassano Irpino.
Pasta Granoro Dedicato is bronze-drawn, ensuring a porous surface that captures condiments exceptionally well. Additionally, the pasta is slowly dried at a low temperature, preserving the characteristic golden-yellow color of the wheat and the fragrance of mature ears. The label of Granoro Dedicato is pleasant and clear, albeit not particularly captivating. It’s important to note that there are multiple foreign languages on the label, a sign of its international distribution.
Granoro Dedicato offers a wide selection of molds, including some typical of the Apulian tradition and others that are quite original. Notable formats include “nuvole” (clouds), characterized by their light and soft shape, “cavatelli murgiani,” with their typical droplet shape, and “funghetti” (little mushrooms), small and curious shapes reminiscent of mushrooms. This variety of formats allows for experimenting with new preparations and appreciating the versatility of Granoro Dedicato.
Granoro Dedicato also stands out for its appealing price, offering an excellent quality-to-price ratio. If you’re looking for high-quality Italian pasta with carefully selected ingredients and a wide variety of formats, Granoro Dedicato is a choice worth considering.
Discover the Pasta Granoro assortment for importers on our dedicated online wholesale website.
4- Garofalo: The Italian Pasta Brands
Pasta Garofalo represents an Italian excellence that deserves to find space on supermarket shelves abroad. This brand has been producing pasta since 1789 in Gragnano, a location in Campania particularly ideal for the production of high-quality pasta due to its climate and environmental conditions. Garofalo Pasta uses wheat sourced from both Europe and non-European countries, ensuring a wide choice of raw materials.
A significant aspect of Pasta Garofalo is its high protein content of 14%. This contributes to making the pasta nutritious and flavorful. Some formats of Garofalo are bronze-drawn, while others use Teflon molds. This material gives a less porous surface, making it ideal for specific condiments, such as broth.
The drying times and temperatures vary depending on the type of mold used. This attention to detail guarantees the highest product quality and, above all, excellent performance on the table. The packaging of Pasta Garofalo is entirely transparent, allowing you to proudly admire its contents. The only downside is that the label is not multilingual.
Garofalo Pasta offers a reasonable price and a wide assortment of formats to choose from. Each format has its unique characteristics that adapt to different types of preparations. You can be certain to find the perfect Garofalo Pasta for every dish you want to prepare.
Check out Bell Italia’s offer on Pasta Garofalo the best Italian pasta.
3- Voiello: The Best Pasta from Italy
Pasta Voiello rightfully claims the well-deserved third position in our ranking of the best dried Italian pasta. This brand distinguishes itself by utilizing the prestigious 100% Grano Aureo, one of the most exquisite and renowned grains globally. This grain, with its elevated protein content (14%) and gluten, imparts Voiello Pasta with a substantial texture and a harmonious flavor, ensuring consistently perfect al dente cooking. It’s crucial to emphasize that the employed Grano Aureo is entirely Italian and sourced through a controlled supply chain.
A hallmark of Voiello Pasta is the bronze extrusion process, which confers a rough and porous surface to the pasta, perfect for holding onto sauces and enhancing their flavors. The label of Voiello has been recently rejuvenated with a retro style, evoking tradition and authenticity. Importantly, the only language present on the label is Italian, reaffirming the product’s Italian identity and origin.
Voiello offers a diverse range of formats, with Linguine Rigate, taking the spotlight, distinguished by their grooves that capture the sauce in a sublime manner. The GranFusilli, with their embracing and decorative shape, add a touch of originality to the dish. The Spaghetti Scanalati, with grooves that enhance sauce adherence, provides a unique gustatory experience. These are just a few of the available formats, each with its own characteristics and versatility.
Voiello Pasta is a brand that carries a 140-year history, synonymous with passion, quality, and a tradition intertwined with the Campania Region. This pasta encapsulates the legacy of past generations, conveying a timeless Italian classic. Opting for Voiello means immersing oneself in a culinary culture rich in authenticity and flavor.
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2- La Molisana: The Best Dried Pasta
La Molisana takes center stage as the best-dried pasta from Italy, as recognized by Bell Italia. This premium product carries with it over a century of history and represents a pinnacle of excellence in the culinary landscape. Crafted from 100% Italian durum wheat, Pasta La Molisana stands out for its high protein content (14%) and its resilient and elastic texture. Moreover, it boasts a rich yellow hue, characteristic of the finest Italian pasta.
A distinctive feature of Pasta La Molisana is its bronze-drawn process, which imparts a porous surface to the pasta. Furthermore, the dough is made with crystal-clear water sourced from the Molise springs, giving the pasta a unique and genuine flavor.
In 2019, Pasta La Molisana was bestowed with the prestigious Leonardo Qualità Italia award, a recognition of the excellence, quality, and export-oriented nature of this truly special pasta. The label of Pasta La Molisana is alluring and stands out for its clarity, providing information solely in Italian, thereby attesting to the product’s authenticity.
Among the numerous available formats, a few deserve special mention. The square spaghetti, with its distinctive shape, captures attention and offers a different texture. The delightful trighetti, and triangular spaghetti, add a touch of originality and fun to the dish. Lastly, the quadrotti, square-based macaroni, presents itself as an unusual yet delightful choice. All these formats are packaged in beautiful and recently revamped eco-friendly cardboard packaging.
If you’re in search of the finest Italian pasta brands, Pasta La Molisana stands as an excellent choice. With its century-old history, use of high-quality Italian durum wheat, and traditional processing methods, this pasta embodies authentic Italian taste. Incorporate Pasta La Molisana into your lineup of Italian product offerings to provide your customers with the opportunity to enjoy and create culinary preparations of superior quality that only this pasta can provide.
We recommend trying La Molisana with Classic Italian dishes like Spaghetti alla Norma or Cacio e Pepe and using the basic ingredients of Italian cuisine such as Italian extra virgin olive oil, and Italian cheese paired with an excellent Italian red wine.
Explore our range of Pasta La Molisanaand elevate your customers’ culinary experiences.
1- Rummo: The best Italian Pasta
Pasta Rummo claims the prestigious title of the best Italian pasta, an accolade granted by Bell Italia. With a legacy of excellence spanning over 150 years, Rummo Pasta, hailing from Benevento in Southern Italy, is renowned for its impeccable quality and distinctive attributes. This pasta stands out through its utilization of premium Italian raw materials, its high protein content (14.5%), and its unhurried processing method that involves slow drying at low temperatures.
A hallmark of Rummo pasta is its bronze-drawn process, ensuring a rough and porous surface. This characteristic allows the pasta to perfectly embrace and elevate the flavor and aroma of the condiments, adhering to the tradition of rustic “sfoglia.” Additionally, the label of Rummo pasta is original and multilingual, providing useful information in all the right places.
An aspect deserving special mention is Rummo’s commitment to the environment. The company adopts sustainable practices to minimize the environmental impact of pasta production. Moreover, Rummo offers unique formats, such as “paccherotti,” which infuse a touch of originality and versatility into their product range.
If you’re on the hunt for authentic, flavorful, and top-quality pasta, Rummo stands as the ideal choice. Its century-long history, dedication to premium Italian ingredients, and adherence to traditional processing methods make this pasta Italian excellence worth experiencing.
We recommend trying Pasta Rummo with a classic Italian pasta recipe with fresh tomato sauce, or if you prefer a meat sauce. The important thing, however, is to use the basic ingredients of Italian cuisine such as Italian olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, paired with an excellent Italian white wine.
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The best Italian Pasta Brand: from Bell Italia at the best price
Visit our website www.bell-italia.com and discover our super offers on Italian pasta brands. Bringing it to your supermarket, wherever you are in the world, is easy, convenient, and safe. Choose Bell Italia, the best Italian wholesaler of consumer products.
In the market of Italian food products wholesale, Bell Italia stands out as the best. Since 2010, it has served as the market’s top showcase for the best Italian goods, serving as a genuine point of reference for retailers and wholesalers from around the globe. Our customers can always restock their shelves in the best way possible thanks to market research, tips on emerging trends, and reviews of fresh Italian food products. Because of this, our blog boasts almost 50,000 readers each month from all over the world.
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