The musician Gioacchino Rossini defined the truffle as "the Mozart of fungi", and in the XVIII century its intense flavour had already won over the palates of European courts, where the highly-prized tuber was considered one of the choicest of foods.
Besides the celebrated White Truffle of Alba and wines of the highest quality, the typical aromas and flavours of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato also include some of the very best hand-crafted cheeses, such as Castelmagno, the finest chocolate, and a long-standing tradition in confectionery specialities. Among the typical products of these hills is also to be found the Gentile del Piemonte variety of Hazelnut, a basic ingredient in the preparation of many local sweets.