Perugina is an Italian confectionary company based in Perugia, Italy, formed in 1907 by Giovanni Buitoni  and Luisa Spagnoli. As the legend would have it, Spagnoli created a unique chocolate confection to express her love for a special someone. It was called Baci, the Italian word for kisses, and around each she would wrap a love note. She realized the confection was too good to keep secret, and soon Baci became a favorite among the young lovers browsing the Perugina sweetshop. Nearly 100 years later, Baci are still exclusively produced in Perugia even though the company is now a division of Nestlé. The recipe is unchanged: silky dark chocolate envelopes a heart of gianduia (a luscious blend of chocolate and hazelnut cream) dotted with more chopped hazelnuts and gloriously crowned with a whole hazelnut. Each Baci remains hugged by a note that reflects sentiments of love, affection and friendship. So to give a Baci is to say ‘I love you’ the Italian way. But by eating Baci you will mainly be saying ‘I love you’ to yourself, as they are probably the best chocolate treats around.

Tips: Indulge.

Make: Perugina

Price: variable

Country: Italy

Hechsher: Milky not Chalav Yisroel