Nutella: The Miracle of WW2

Nutella: The Miracle of WW2
Quizzed ESL Activities

Nutella: A Spreadable Sensation

Nutella, the popular chocolate-hazelnut spread, has a rich history dating back to 19th century Italy. The story begins with Napoleon Bonaparte, who sparked a continental blockade that led to a shortage of chocolate.

Early Beginnings

  • Italian chocolatiers added chopped hazelnuts to chocolate to stretch supplies, creating a paste called gianduia.
  • Gianduia faded into obscurity after cocoa imports resumed, but its legacy lived on.

Rebirth and Innovation

  • During World War II, Italian chocolate lovers faced another shortage, leading to the creation of a new recipe by Pietro Ferrero.
  • Ferrero’s giandujot, a thick, sweet loaf, didn’t catch on, but he persisted and created a spreadable version called SuperCrema in 1951.

The Birth of Nutella

  • In 1964, SuperCrema’s recipe was adjusted for mass production and rebranded as Nutella.
  • Pietro’s son, Michele, took over the company and expanded Nutella across Europe and the United States, creating a global empire.

Legacy and Impact

  • Nutella gained a cult following and became a staple in many households.
  • Today, Nutella is celebrated on World Nutella Day (February 5th) and remains a testament to human perseverance and innovation.

Key Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Usage
Nutella A popular chocolate-hazelnut spread originating from Italy. She spread a layer of Nutella on her toast for breakfast.
Gianduia A traditional Italian paste made from chocolate and hazelnuts. The Italian chocolatiers created a delicious gianduia to cope with the chocolate shortage.
Continental Blockade A restriction on trade and commerce imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte across Europe. The continental blockade led to a severe shortage of chocolate in Italy.
SuperCrema A spreadable version of giandujot created by Pietro Ferrero in 1951. Pietro Ferrero’s SuperCrema was the precursor to the popular Nutella spread.
Giandujot A thick, sweet loaf made from chocolate and hazelnuts created by Pietro Ferrero. Although giandujot didn’t gain popularity, it paved the way for the creation of Nutella.
Mass Production The process of producing large quantities of a product, in this case, Nutella. The adjustment of SuperCrema’s recipe for mass production led to the creation of Nutella.
World Nutella Day A day celebrated on February 5th to commemorate the popularity of Nutella. On World Nutella Day, fans of the spread come together to share their love for Nutella.
Cult Following A group of devoted fans who enthusiastically support a particular product or brand, in this case, Nutella. Nutella has gained a cult following worldwide, with fans creating unique recipes and sharing their experiences.

Watch The Video

Nutella: The Miracle of WW2

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who makes chocolate’?

A) Chocolatier’s apprentice
B) Chocolate lover
C) Italian chef
D) Chocolatiers

2. What does ‘gianduia’ refer to in the context of Nutella’s history?

A) A type of hazelnut
B) A chocolate-hazelnut spread called Nutella
C) A paste made from chocolate and hazelnuts
D) A recipe created by Napoleon Bonaparte

3. What event led to the creation of a new recipe by Pietro Ferrero during World War II?

A) A surplus of cocoa imports
B) The end of the continental blockade
C) A shortage of chocolate
D) The introduction of Nutella

4. In what year was SuperCrema’s recipe adjusted for mass production and rebranded as Nutella?

A) 1951
B) 1964
C) 1945
D) 1800

5. What is celebrated on February 5th according to the text?

A) World Chocolate Day
B) Nutella’s Birthday
C) World Hazelnut Day
D) World Nutella Day

Answer Key:

1. D
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. D

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past. It is formed using the auxiliary verb “had” + the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “The story begins with Napoleon Bonaparte, who sparked a continental blockade that led to a shortage of chocolate,” we can use the past perfect tense to describe an action that happened before the blockade, such as “Napoleon had imposed trade restrictions before he sparked the continental blockade.” This tense is useful for showing cause and effect or for clarifying the order of events in the past. Another example from the text is “Gianduia faded into obscurity after cocoa imports had resumed,” which shows that the resumption of cocoa imports happened before gianduia faded into obscurity.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

  1. By the time Pietro Ferrero created a new recipe, ________ another shortage of chocolate.

    A) there was

    B) there had been

    C) there has been

    D) there would be
  2. Before Nutella gained a cult following, ________ a staple in many households.

    A) it was

    B) it had become

    C) it has become

    D) it becomes
  3. By 1964, SuperCrema’s recipe ________ for mass production several times.

    A) was adjusted

    B) had been adjusted

    C) has been adjusted

    D) is adjusted
  4. After cocoa imports ________, gianduia faded into obscurity.

    A) resume

    B) had resumed

    C) have resumed

    D) will resume
  5. Before Michele took over the company, his father ________ the foundation for Nutella’s global empire.

    A) has laid

    B) laid

    C) had laid

    D) will lay

Answer Key:

  1. B) there had been
  2. B) it had become
  3. B) had been adjusted
  4. B) had resumed
  5. C) had laid