Which country has the best pasta? (2023)

Which country has the best pasta?

The beloved country of Italy is the leader in both the produce and consumption of pasta today.

Italian pasta typically has strict government quality standards and control around it, and is made with 100% durum wheat, called semolina flour, or semola di grano duro in Italian. This means that not only is the pasta higher in protein, but more importantly it stands up to the rigours of cooking well.

Today Italy is the world's largest pasta producing country with an estimated output of more than 3.3 million tons in 2013 which represents around 25-30% of the world's total pasta production and 73% of E.U.

Noodles existed in China and Asia long before pasta appeared in the Mediterranean world, and the legend goes that Marco Polo brought pasta to Italy from China in the 13th century. Apparently, there are passages in The Travels of Marco Polo (by Marco Polo, of course) that refer to “pasta-like dishes.”

1) Barilla Pasta

Top of the list there's Barilla. The company was founded by Pietro Barilla in 1877 as a bakery in Parma, Italy.

Spaghetti is the most popular of all the pasta types. It is the favorite of many, especially kids. Indeed, this is one of the most frequently cooked pasta worldwide. It is also usually available in most restaurants.

So, what makes Italians so healthy? Despite an abundance of pasta and pizza, the Italian diet is rich in fruit, vegetables, lean meat, legumes, fresh fish, and olive oil. These foods are a big part of the Mediterranean diet, considered to be one of the best for good cardiovascular and brain health.

Global Consumer Survey

But that's nothing compared to the European home of pasta, Italy, 81 percent of which regularly have pasta on their daily menu. The food staple is almost equally as popular in France, where 78 percent of respondents count it as a regular fixture on their shopping list.

Despite its many forms and the countless texts in which it has appeared, pasta seems to be universally associated with Italy. According to history, however, pasta's earliest roots begin in China, during the Shang Dynasty (1700-1100 BC), where some form of pasta was made with either wheat or rice flour.

Is all pasta made in Italy?

Worldwide, pasta has become synonymous with Italian cuisine. Italian immigrants themselves brought pasta everywhere they went. While it is true that the most famous varieties and recipes of cooking pasta really do come from Italy, surprisingly, the actual origin of pasta lies elsewhere!

Global Consumer Survey

But that's nothing compared to the European home of pasta, Italy, 81 percent of which regularly have pasta on their daily menu. The food staple is almost equally as popular in France, where 78 percent of respondents count it as a regular fixture on their shopping list.

1) Barilla Pasta

Top of the list there's Barilla. The company was founded by Pietro Barilla in 1877 as a bakery in Parma, Italy.

Two boxes of $2 pasta have led to a possible class-action lawsuit that could cost Barilla millions of dollars, according to legal experts.