Quality meets the art of innovation: how our pasta is born
19 May 2025
There is something deeply comforting about sitting down to a plate of pasta: a simple, everyday ritual that combines habit and flavour with togetherness. These days, it’s easy to take pasta for granted, but have you ever stopped to wonder about its journey to your table?
Over the centuries, pasta has evolved in terms of ingredients as well as shape and the way it’s made. We know this well. We’ve been making pasta since 1877, starting from the original recipe and refining it over time, turning into a global symbol of both flavour (with the perfect al dente bite), and innovation in packaging and production.
From the very beginning, we have invested in research and development, always striving to push the boundaries and create products that look to the future. Thus, the journey of our pasta continues with the same passion that sparked it at the start, and a constant focus on the future, all while staying true to the tradition that has made it iconic.
FOR A GOODNESS THAT’S ALWAYS AL DENTE
Tender on the outside, firm at the core, that’s how we like to describe our pasta: built to hold up during cooking and always deliver that perfect al dente bite. But did you know this quality can actually be measured?
In our labs, we use a tool called the Z3 to do just that. It helps us ensure our pasta stays firm and resilient after cooking. How does it work? We press a specific amount of cooked pasta through a grid inside a press and measure the pressure needed to push it through.
Thanks to the data we collect, we can scientifically validate the quality and goodness of our pasta, ensuring our consumers enjoy an exceptional taste experience, bite after bite.
A ROUGH TEXTURE THAT DOES “SCARPETTA”
When it comes to innovation, our bronze-cut pasta is a standout, not just for its packaging. It’s true, since 2024 Barilla Al Bronzo has had a fresh new look, dressed in a deeper, more refined red packaging with an entirely redesigned visual identity.
But it’s the way we make Al Bronzo that truly sets it apart. Pick up any cut of our Al Bronzo pasta, and you’ll see, and feel, the difference. Thanks to our special bronze-cut method, we create micro-grooves on the dough’s surface, giving it an intense roughness.
This quality is constantly monitored in our labs using a "rugosimeter” - a revolutionary tool we have designed that is inspired by precision mechanics, to accurately measure the roughness of our Al Bronzo pasta.
Imagine a record player, where the needle glides along the grooves of a vinyl record to bring music to life. Our rugosimeter works in much the same way. It uses a fine-tipped needle that moves slowly across the surface of the pasta, recording its roughness and translating it into precise data. This is how we ensure a consistently high degree of roughness, so every piece of pasta holds the sauce beautifully and truly does “Scarpetta”.
OUR PASTA’S SUIT
The Blue Box that clothes our pasta is a timeless icon and one of Barilla’s most notable examples of innovation. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, we sparked a true revolution in the pasta world, by leading the shift from traditional food-grade paper packaging to the now-classic cardboard box. The first one we created in 1957 in collaboration with renowned designer Erberto Carboni already featured all the elements that would make it iconic: the distinctive blue colour, our logo front and centre, and a graphic design that perfectly reflected our brand identity, which was pioneering for its time.
Over the years, our very first pasta box has continued to evolve. Today, the Blue Box is finally a fully recyclable package, thanks to the absence of a plastic window*, made from high-quality cardboard sourced from responsibly managed forests. Its rich blue hue, updated logo and sleek, modern design all reinforce what makes the Blue Box so distinctive, always ahead of the curve and a trusted favourite on supermarket shelves.
THE REBIRTH OF ARTISIA
And then there’s a pasta so unique, it can only be ordered through its own dedicated website, like a rare, precious object. It’s our most innovative and revolutionary creation yet. Launched in 2019 and developed alongside us ever since, it’s now ready for a new chapter, with a new name but the same commitment to quality and sophistication. Artisia, our new 3D-printed pasta, represents the pinnacle of Italian pasta craftsmanship, a fusion of creativity, artisanal care and cutting-edge technology.
Made from a careful selection of the finest grains, we produce a one-of-a-kind semolina and craft the dough in small batches using traditional methods to ensure perfect texture every time. Inspired by the forms of nature and the beauty of art, we’ve created pasta shapes that defy what’s possible with conventional extrusion.
Each 3D-printed piece of Artisia is a masterpiece of digital craftsmanship, designed to captivate the eye, delight the palate and deliver an unforgettable sensory experience.
Because that’s what we’ve been doing since 1877: investing in innovation not just to push boundaries, but to offer our consumers ever more extraordinary taste experiences.
OUR PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH
If you want to delve deeper into the topics we have just addressed, here are some reading, listening and watching suggestions:
- The book of pasta, a book by Academia Barilla that collects over 150 recipes and describes pasta in all its forms.
* Excluded Canada, Russia, Japan and U.S.A., where the removal is in progress.
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