Chocolate truffles – pistachio liqueur – 5 pcs.

Pistachio Liqueur Chocolate Balls. Milk chocolate pralines with Crema Alpina filling from Trentino.

Pistachio Liqueur Chocolate Balls are five individually wrapped milk chocolate pralines by Marzadro, filled with a cream made from pistachio, cream, and liqueur. No pistachio chocolate, no truffles, nothing for children.

Pistachio Liqueur Chocolate Balls is the name given by Marzadro to these liqueur pralines, whose filling is inspired by the house’s own pistachio liqueur, Crema Alpina Pistacchio. Imagine the end of a long meal. The plates have been cleared, the espresso is steaming, and a small bowl contains green-and-silver wrapped balls. Open one, and you first taste milk chocolate, followed by a soft, nutty cream with a warm alcoholic finish. There is nothing more needed at this point in the evening.

Mild shell, nutty cream, warm finish

The pralines first taste of mild milk chocolate, then roasted pistachio and cream, with the liqueur coming through at the end. The shell contains at least 35 percent cocoa. It is sweet and creamy, not bitter.

The filling is soft and does not run. It can therefore be bitten into without leaking. The pistachio is clearly the main flavour, while the alcohol warms without burning.

Anyone expecting a strong, dark liqueur praline will find these balls too sweet. For such palates, dark chocolate pralines are better suited. Those seeking pure pistachio without alcohol will also be disappointed.

Visually, the balls stand out with their green foil and silver lettering, twisted like a piece of candy. Beneath the foil, the chocolate is smooth and shiny. Breaking one open reveals the light green filling, which gets its colour from pistachio paste.

With espresso, with grappa, as a thank-you to the host

The balls are best enjoyed after a meal, alongside an espresso or a small glass of grappa. One ball per person is enough; each weighs around 14 grams. Pistachio pairs particularly well with aged, smooth grappa, as both have nutty notes.

Anyone wishing to continue the pistachio theme can serve a glass of lightly chilled Crema Alpina Pistacchio alongside. During Advent, the balls pair well with the same house’s Panettone with pistachio cream.

The small bag with a bow is an ideal gift for invitations where a whole box would be too much. The pralines are not suitable for children, pregnant women, or guests who do not drink alcohol. Therefore, make sure to mention this when giving them as a gift.

Good to know: Store the balls between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius. In warm conditions, the filling softens and presses against the shell; in the refrigerator, it becomes firm and dull. The filling contains the colouring E102, which, according to the label on the packaging, may affect children’s activity and attention.

A distillery with a sweet side

Distilleria Marzadro was founded in 1949 in Nogaredo in Trentino and is best known for its grappa. Today, the family’s third generation runs the business. In addition to grappa, the distillery produces liqueurs, including the Crema Alpina range of creamy liqueurs made with cream.

Marzadro developed further specialities from this liqueur range, from panettone to filled pralines. The chocolate balls are made by a chocolate manufactory in Trentino with which the house collaborates. Each ball is individually wrapped in foil after filling to protect the shell.

Filled hollow balls are challenging to make. The chocolate shell is first poured into a mould, then filled and finally sealed with chocolate. If the wall is too thin in one place, it will break and the filling will leak out.

A little piece of Trentino to give as a gift

What sets these pralines apart is the combination of distillery and confectionery. The filling tastes of the liqueur for which Marzadro is known, while the shell remains mild and approachable. Five pieces in the bag make a serving for an evening for two or a round of espresso with friends.

For a larger group, several bags can be arranged in a shallow bowl, along with a few unsalted pistachios. This makes it clear at a glance what the filling is all about.

Five pralines to end a long evening with pistachio, cream, and a sip of Trentino.