Nocciola del Piemonte

Nocciola del Piemonte / Nocciola Piemonte is a PGI reserved exclusively for hazelnuts of the Tonda Gentile Trilobata variety, grown in designated hazelnut-producing municipalities across seven provinces of the Piedmont region. The designation covers whole unshelled, shelled, roasted, ground, and paste forms, each defined by specific processing and size parameters set out in the product specification.

About this designation

Nocciola del Piemonte / Nocciola Piemonte (PGI file number PGI-IT-0305, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013127) received EU protection on 21 June 1996. The designation is reserved exclusively for hazelnuts of the Tonda Gentile Trilobata variety; no other variety is permitted. The production area falls entirely within the Piedmont region, covering hazelnut-producing municipalities in the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Turin, and Vercelli, at altitudes between 150 m and 800 m above sea level. Planting density on registered plantations must be between 200 and 500 plants per hectare; for plantations established before the national approval decree of 2 December 1993, a maximum of 650 plants per hectare is permitted, with no replacement of plants that die or are grubbed up. The maximum yield is 3 500 kg/ha. The nut's shell size ranges from 17 mm to 21 mm, and the shelling yield is between 40 % and 50 %. Six product categories are defined: whole unshelled, shelled, roasted, ground (pieces between 1 mm and 12 mm), hazelnut flour (grains between 250 μm and 1 mm), and hazelnut paste (grains less than 250 μm). Packaging of the unshelled product must be completed by 31 December of the year following harvesting. Labels must carry the words 'Nocciola del Piemonte' or 'Nocciola Piemonte' followed by 'Indicazione geografica protetta' or 'IGP'. Plantations must be entered on a list kept by the control body. The applicant group is the Consorzio per la Valorizzazione e la Tutela della Nocciola del Piemonte IGP.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 21 June 1996 under file number PGI-IT-0305 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013127).
• The designation permits only the Tonda Gentile Trilobata variety; the specification states no other variety may be used.
• Shell size ranges from 17 mm to 21 mm, with a shelling yield of between 40 % and 50 %.
• Maximum permitted yield is 3 500 kg/ha; planting density for new plantations must be between 200 and 500 plants per hectare.

Tasting notes

Piedmontese hazelnut, Tonda Gentile delle Langhe variety — globally regarded as the world's premier hazelnut. Round shape, golden-brown shell, intensely aromatic flesh with sweet roasted-nut flavor, low oil-rancidity.

HoReCa use

The specification identifies roasted hazelnuts, ground hazelnuts, hazelnut flour, and hazelnut paste as defined semi-processed product categories intended for use in industry; when used as an ingredient in food products, the label must state that the product was produced exclusively from Nocciola del Piemonte / Nocciola Piemonte.

Packaging

• vacuum-pack-shelled-250g
• vacuum-pack-shelled-500g
• vacuum-pack-shelled-1kg
• in-shell-bulk-10kg
• ground-paste-1kg
• ground-paste-bulk-5kg