Twenty-five years of experience in walnut groves and a desire to keep innovating - we are talking about Azienda Agricola Valier, which specialised in walnut cultivation in 1991. After opening its own company store in 2006, it launched the Noce Verde range, made up of unique products developed from the characteristic aroma of the husk, i.e. the outer part of the fruit that dries out and dies in late summer.
Green walnuts are still ripening - the hull and kernel are not yet formed and the husk is bright green. When harvested at this stage, walnuts are used to make Nocino, a liqueur typical of the Emilia-Romagna area.
But Valier uses green walnuts for a lot more than that - it produces candied walnuts (photo above), packed walnut pieces and walnut spread. These products work very well with cheese (gorgonzola for the pieces or Parmigiano Reggiano for the spread) and desserts such as panna cotta, ice-cream and cheese cakes.
In addition, candied green nuts can be coated in dark chocolate (photo above), becoming little treats to be enjoyed throughout the day. Finally, the syrup obtained by the candying process can be used as a topping on acidic fruit or cheeses like ricotta. And there are even green nuts in oil, perfect with white or red meat or in rice salads and entrées.
And there's more - in order to promote green walnuts, Valier also produces kernels in syrup. The fruits are immersed in green walnut syrup and the final product can be eaten as a dessert or paired with soft cheese.
In addition to the Noce Verde range, there is also the Dried Walnut range, i.e. products obtained from kernels - classic biscuits, gialletti (soft biscuits made with corn flour and raisins), cantucci (biscuits with no butter), walnut tarts (shortcrust pastry with walnuts and caramel - photo above) and sweet loaves (photo below), which were introduced in 2015 and were immediately popular with clients. Dark-chocolate coated kernels are also particularly tasty.
The flagship product of Azienda Valier is walnut oil (photo below), which is cold-extracted from Lara walnut kernels. The taste is delicate and it is perfect as a condiment for fish dishes, cooked or raw vegetables and soups. Cold extraction maintains the organoleptic qualities of walnuts unaltered, especially for what concerns omega-3 fatty acids, which help blood circulation and prevent cholesterol.
Distribution and new products
In addition to private clients, Azienda Valier also supplies stores and the H&R sector, especially labs and ice-cream parlours, with shelled walnuts and walnut paste (100% Lara walnuts).
The company is always looking to innovate and has recently introduced its walnut and chocolate spread, made with a 40% walnut and cocoa content free from preservatives and colourings. It was launched at Taste in Florence and feedback has been extremely positive.
Contacts:
Azienda Agricola Valier s.s. soc. agr.
Via CanalBianco sx 10
45100 Borsea - Rovigo
Tel.: (+39) 0425 474575
Web: www.valier.it / www.nocilara.it / www.nocisgusciate.it
Contacts:
Azienda Agricola Valier s.s. soc. agr.
Via CanalBianco sx 10
45100 Borsea - Rovigo
Tel.: (+39) 0425 474575
Web: www.valier.it / www.nocilara.it / www.nocisgusciate.it