Colavita pasta and sweetness (yes that is what it is)
A neighbor of ours moved and gave me a few packages of Colavita pasta. I made the penne and when served it had a distinct sweetness to it. I thought I had lost my mind. Today I made it again, and there it was when I tasted it. SWEET. Did anyone else find this? I am in shock.
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8 Comments:
Never tried that one Jerzee, but I got a free jar of pasta sauce - Ragu with basil, garlic and onions - with my last order and decided it would make a quick and easy dinner. I've been making my own sauce forever. It tasted like it was half sugar. I'm sure I've tasted it in the past and didn't notice that? The sweetness was disgusting. Must say, I've never heard of anyone adding sweetener of any kind to pasta. Did you look at the ingredients?
PerkyMac at 8:22PM on 07/22/08
Yes. I dont use that brand for that very reason!
Brownie at 8:55PM on 07/22/08
I always thought Ragu was awfully sweet, but I've always tended to like tart foods. Ragu also has another flavor besides the sweetness that makes it unmistakable. I don't know what it is, exactly, but it's a scent and a flavor that you can't disguise.
As for the pasta, I don't think I've ever seen that brand. Olive oil, yes, pasta, no.
dbcurrie at 12:43AM on 07/23/08
I was so upset about it I freaking wrote an email. What the limp noodle do they think they are doing? Do not mess with my damn pasta. They say on their website that they have been making pasta since 1912. Something tells me someone decided Americans like sweet pasta and or sauce. I am mortified, outraged and really ticked (not necessarily in that order) I would never have guessed someone would add sugar to pasta unless it was for a kugel dessert or noodle pudding.
Shame on you Colavita. How could you???
JerzeeTomato at 1:20AM on 07/23/08
First of all, I thought this thread was about pasta, not sauce?
Second, Jerzee, since you took the time to write the company, maybe you should wait to hear back before you totally indict them? :)
I don't use Colavita pasta, so I can't even go there.
tmj529 at 3:26AM on 07/23/08
@tmj529 ~ you're right. My mind went to another "Italian" product that was also inappropriately sweet. Didn't mean to change the subject. Sorry, Jerzee. Hope you weren't offended, as well.
PerkyMac at 7:20AM on 07/23/08
I've used Colavita pasta and never noticed this. I in fact once did a side by side comparison with their long fussili, a shape that I love, with those of another Italian brand, whose name I don't remember right now, and preferred the Colavitas... Maybe they are using a highly refined flour, possibly not even using durum semolina? And the drying process makes a big difference in flavor too. If they are using a speedier drying process, the flavors don't mature into that "nutty" wheat flavor that tastes so good.
My favorite dry pastas are the Fara San Martino di Abruzzo and the real De Cecco bronze die extruded pastas. Havent tried the fabled Rustichellas yet. The downside of these brands is that they are extremely, obscenely even, expensive, at upwards of $5 a pound. But they use the right kind of wheat flour, extrude it from rough bronze dies which makes the surface rough to catch more sauce, and they dry the pasta slowly to give them more flavor. If I don't splurge on those, I'm a big fan of Luigi Vitelli.
I am very curious to know what the response from Colavita is. As I said up top, I actually like some of their pastas... Haven't had any in a while, maybe I should try some to see if they are indeed sweet to me too. Please post their response when you get it!
simon at 2:16PM on 07/23/08
When my mom first started using imported macaroni - I used to say it tasted like candy. I eventually came to appreciate the flavor and now American made macaroni tastes bland to me.
chiff0nade at 10:52AM on 07/24/08