Assorted Italian taralli snacks from brands including I Contadini, Nonna Maria, and Rallini, available at Torrone Candy

June 5, 2026 Anne Marie Andriola

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Taralli

From Our Kitchen · The Taralli Guide

How they're made, how to eat them, and what makes every brand on our shelf a little different.

What exactly are taralli? Are they pretzels? Why are they so dry? What should I eat them with? And why do you carry so many different brands? Just some of the questions that I've heard over the years. Taralli are one of my favorite snacks, so I'm happy to answer them!

So grab a glass of vino and let's talk taralli.

"In Puglia, there is a saying: 'tutto finisce a tarallucci e vino' — everything ends with taralli and wine. In other words, everything works out in the end. We couldn't agree more!"

What is a tarallo?

A tarallo (plural: taralli) is a small, ring-shaped baked snack traditionally from southern Italy, most famously from Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot, though you'll also find them in Campania, Calabria, and Basilicata. They're sort of a pretzel/breadstick, but with a texture and flavor that is entirely their own, crunchy, crumbly, and rich from the olive oil baked right into the dough.

Their history goes all the way back to the Middle Ages, and they were perfect for farmers to take into the fields.

How are taralli made?

Most taralli have very simple ingredient lists: flour, extra virgin olive oil, white wine, and salt. That's the base and from there, you add whatever flavors you enjoy: fennel seeds, chili pepper, chocolate, anise, black pepper. (My favorite is chili pepper!) But the magic is really in how they're made:

Mix

The dough is worked either by hand or machine — flour, olive oil, white wine, salt — until soft and smooth.

Roll & shape

Small pieces are rolled into little logs and formed into rings, pinched closed at the ends.

Boil first

Into boiling water they go! When they float to the top, just like gnocchi, they're ready.

Then bake

After drying, place into a hot oven until beautifully golden and irresistibly crunchy.

The boil and bake technique is the secret! It gives taralli their distinctive surface and that wonderful, crunchy and crumbly texture that keeps you reaching into the bowl again and again. It's the same principle as bagels and pretzels.

How to eat taralli

In Puglia, taralli are eaten at every hour of the day. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy them:

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Dipped in wine

The classic Puglian way: dip your taralli in a glass of red and nibble. Bellissimo!

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Antipasto board

Alongside aged cheeses, cured meats, and olives. They hold up and add the perfect crunch.

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Aperitivo time

With an Aperol Spritz or Negroni. Taralli are Italy's answer to bar nuts!

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Morning coffee

A few sweet taralli with your espresso is a perfectly Italian way to start the day.

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On the go

They travel perfectly. Toss a bag in your purse or picnic basket.

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In the bread basket

In Puglia, they appear at the dinner table alongside the bread.

One tip we love: if you find your taralli have softened a little over time, pop them in a 300° oven for 5 minutes, and they come right back to life. Nonna's trick!

The brands we carry and what makes each one special

At Torrone Candy, we offer a variety of taralli, each with its own unique personality, story, and reason to be on your shelf. Some are crunchier, while others are more crumbly, but every type is flavorful and authentic to its region of origin. Just like with torrone, everyone has their favorite taralli!

A family farm from Ugento in the Salento region, the very tip of Puglia's heel. I Contadini uses Senatore Cappelli, an ancient grain. When I Contadini stone-mills their Senatore Cappelli wheat, they preserve the whole grain so nothing is stripped away. The bran, the germ, all of it is there. Some people find this wheat easier to digest. These taralli are rustic, earthy, and deeply flavorful. More crumbly than crunchy. If you want to taste Puglia the way it has always tasted, this is your tarallo.

Flavors: Classic Ancient Grain, Fennel, Sweet Chocolate and Almonds, and Chili Pepper.

Mitica has deep roots in Puglia. Their Grano Arso Ancient Grain Fennel Taralli are made with toasted wheat flour, a centuries-old Puglian tradition of using toasted grain. The result is taralli with a distinctive smoky, nutty depth unlike anything else.

Flavors: Grano Arso Ancient Grain Fennel

Their motto says it all: "Lavoriamo con passione, lavoriamo per amore." We work with passion, we work with love. Made in Puglia with simple ingredients: type "00" wheat flour, olive oil, white wine, and salt. Nonna Maria taralli are delicate, light, and perfectly crunchy. More crunchy than crumbly. Classic, honest, and completely addictive.

Flavors: Classic Olive Oil, Fennel, Chili Pepper, Sweet Glassati, Black Pepper.

Rallini is made right here in the US! They use extra virgin olive oil, unbleached flour, and no preservatives or artificial flavors. The same honest ingredients as in Italy, made by hand in New York. Their taralli have a bold, full-flavored quality that makes them stand out on any snack board. This is tradition with a New York state of mind!

Flavors: Everything Spice, Fennel, Anise, Sweet Lemon.

Cianciullo brings us something a little different from Molise. In addition to their savory taralli, their sugar-glazed sweet egg taralli (known as "Mëscotte c'u l'ovë") are perfect with a coffee or after-dinner drink!

Flavors: Sweet Egg Taralli (glazed), Savory varieties also - EVOO, Fennel, Black Pepper, Whole Wheat, Red Pepper

Daoli is a family-run company from Ospedaletto, near Avellino in the Campania region. They bring us the taralli that we sold at the torrone stand: the Taralli Glassati! These are the sweet version of taralli, finished with a beautiful sugar glaze that gives them a slight crunch on the outside. Light, sweet, and completely delicious. They are proof that taralli aren't just for the savory lovers!

Flavors: Sweet Taralli Glassati.

So which one should you try first? Why not try them all! Each brand tells a different story, has a different texture, and brings something unique to the table. That's what we love most about carrying them. Just like torrone, there is no wrong answer when it comes to taralli. Everyone has their favorite style!

Grazie e mangia bene!
Anne Marie

Ready to build your taralli collection?

We carry all of these brands, and more, right here at Torrone Candy. Mix and match your favorites and discover your new obsession. We promise you won't be disappointed!

Shop All Taralli →

Taralli Puglia Italian Snacks I Contadini Rallini Nonna Maria

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