Gianduia is a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of ground hazelnut butter and chocolate.
It was created in the 1940s by Mr. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero company. At the time, there was very little chocolate because cocoa was in short supply due to World War II rationing. So Mr. Ferrero used hazelnuts, which are plentiful in the Piedmont region of Italy (northwest), to extend the chocolate supply.
Chef Ferrero wanted to sell his wonderful product not just to other pastry chefs, but also households. Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread was created and the rest is history…
Sweet, delicious history.