Walk into any grocery store in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore and you’ll see dozens of pasta brands. All claiming to be “authentic Italian.” Some with Italian-sounding names. Others with pictures of Italian flags, Tuscany fields, or the Colosseum on the pack.
But here’s the truth: most of it is marketing noise.
The Indian pasta market is growing fast from around ₹615 million in 2024 to potentially reaching ₹2.7 billion by 2034. That’s roughly a 16% annual growth rate. (Source: Indian pasta market size and growth forecast)
And where there’s money, there’s “creative marketing.”
So how do you actually identify genuine Italian-style pasta in India not the fake claims, not the packaging tricks, but the real thing?
Let’s break it down.
“Italian-style pasta” does not mean it must be made in Italy.
It means it’s made using Italian methods and standards:
Italy has been doing pasta for centuries the process isn’t secret. Anyone can replicate it if they have the right equipment and quality control. If you want to see the real production steps, this is a good reference: authentic Italian pasta manufacturing process
But most brands won’t follow the full process because cutting corners is cheaper.
India’s pasta market right now is exciting and chaotic.
Different research firms place the market in a similar ballpark today, with rapid growth (14–16% CAGR). The major consuming regions include:
The problem is: growth attracted everyone FMCG giants, regional manufacturers, small operators, importers, and even traders posing as manufacturers.
So quality varies wildly.
When someone asks “what is pasta made of in India?” the real answer is:
It depends completely on the brand.
Here’s the tricky part: in India, the word “semolina” on pack doesn’t always mean 100% semolina. A brand can be 30% semolina + 70% maida and still say “made with semolina.”
That’s a huge red flag.
You’re in-store, or browsing BigBasket/Amazon/Blinkit. Here’s what to actually check:
Flip the pack.
✅ What you want:
❌ Red flags:
If the first ingredient isn’t durum wheat semolina it’s not authentic Italian-style. Period.
Authentic pasta usually looks different.
✅ Texture:
❌ Not ideal:
✅ Color:
❌ Red flags:
Good manufacturers are proud of their process.
✅ Good signs:
❌ Warning signs:
Minimum required in India:
Good to see (signals seriousness):
Example reference for the kind of listings you’ll see in India: FSSAI certified pasta manufacturer India
This test never lies.
Cook pasta properly (avoid overcooking).
✅ Authentic Italian-style pasta will:
❌ Low-quality pasta will:
Optional factory process video reference if you want to add it: how pasta is made in a factory (video)
Barilla, De Cecco, Garofalo
These are authentic Italian pasta. Great quality — but expensive (₹200–400 / 500g) and not always widely available.
These are “safe” choices, but not premium Italian-style.
Full disclosure: this is us — but I’ll keep it factual.
What we do (process):
Certifications:
FSSAI, GMP, GHP, FSSC 22000, HACCP, Halal
Availability:
Present in 7+ states + online via shop.bregano.in and e-commerce platforms.
Honest positioning: premium quality made in India, priced below imported Italian brands.
Other similar premium options in India:
These are classic “fool the customer” tactics:
Delhi/NCR is arguably India’s biggest pasta-consuming region because:
Delhi has access to:
Where people buy in Delhi:
If you eat pasta regularly, moving from ₹50 maida pasta to ₹120–150 semolina pasta is a real upgrade.
Skip immediately if you see multiple of these:
❌ primary ingredient isn’t durum wheat semolina
❌ too cheap (₹50 or less per 500g)
❌ no certifications / no manufacturer info
❌ super shiny smooth pasta
❌ pure white color
❌ breaks easily when dry
❌ turns mushy fast
❌ water becomes overly cloudy
❌ chemical/artificial smell
❌ only trader/marketer details, no real manufacturing identity
The Indian pasta market is crowded, and it’s easy to get fooled by packaging.
But identifying authentic Italian-style pasta isn’t complicated once you know the signals:
You don’t need to buy imported pasta every time. But you should upgrade from maida-based “pasta-shaped noodles” to real semolina pasta if you want proper taste and texture.
Want to try genuine Italian-style pasta made in India?
👉 Check out Bregano
We’re not the only good option but we’re very clear about what we make and how we make it. And in this market, that transparency is rare.