Mercadona launches Italian guanciale to make authentic carbonara

Mercadona supermarkets have introduced a product that has sparked great excitement among gourmets and fans of Italian cuisine. After multiple requests, the chain led by Juan Roig has decided to incorporate pork guanciale into its shelves for the first time.

Guanciale, which is pork jowl cured with salt and spices, is an essential ingredient for the traditional carbonara recipe. Despite the dish’s popularity, this product had so far been almost nonexistent in Spanish supermarkets.

Guanciale: the king of carbonara and Mercadona’s new bet

Mercadona has chosen to maintain quality and authenticity and has relied on one of its longstanding suppliers, Indústries Càrniques Loriente Piqueras (Incarlopsa), to bring this delicacy to the shelves.

Located in Tarancón, Cuenca, this family business is known as the king of cured ham in Spain, but now it has also dared to produce a guanciale that respects traditional Italian artisanal techniques. The result: a product valued by Italian chefs that can now be found at Mercadona | and its online sales channel in areas such as the Community of Madrid.

Characteristics of Mercadona’s guanciale

• Weight per package: just over 300 grams.
• Price: 4.65 euros per package.
• Origin: made by Incarlopsa according to traditional Italian criteria.
• Use: specially for carbonara, providing a flavor and texture that no other piece of pork can offer.

A product Mercadona’s customers had been waiting for

Mercadona’s managers explain that the addition of guanciale was a direct response to the demand of their “jefes,” as they call their customers. The growing popularity of authentic carbonara has focused attention on this ingredient, which until now was only found in specialty stores or imported at high prices.

With this strategy, Mercadona aims to offer a more authentic and affordable Italian cuisine experience to consumers, highlighting the tradition and quality of products like this.

Guanciale in Italian gastronomic tradition and its impact in Spain

Origin and importance of guanciale

Guanciale is a historic element in Italian cuisine, especially in the Lazio region. This cut of meat, obtained from the pork jowl, differs from pancetta by its texture and more intense flavor, essential for dishes like carbonara, amatriciana, or gricia.

Its preparation involves curing with salt and spices, which provides an aroma and smoothness that are difficult to replace with other cured meats.

Mercadona and the democratization of guanciale

Until now, guanciale in Spain was rather an expensive imported product and not very accessible, limited to restaurants or specialty stores. Now, with its availability at Mercadona, consumers can experience authentic carbonara at home with a reliable and affordable product.

Moreover, according to Mercadona sources, this move could open the door to other specialty products, consolidating the chain as a benchmark in gourmet offerings for international cuisine.

How to use guanciale to make the perfect carbonara

Practical tips for cooking with guanciale

• Cut: Guanciale is cut into small cubes or strips to achieve the ideal crispy texture.
• Cooking: It is fried slowly to release its fat and intensity without burning.
• Integration: It is added to hot pasta along with eggs and pecorino cheese to achieve the characteristic sauce.

Guanciale vs other alternatives: why is it different?

Many cooks adapt carbonara with pancetta or even ham, but guanciale provides a unique flavor and texture that no substitute can match. Its fat content and curing process give it a complexity that transforms the dish.

Bringing it home without having to go to specialty stores is precisely what Mercadona has achieved with this bet.

If you want to know more about prices and products at Mercadona, this step is a clear example of how the chain listens and responds to the market.

Italian guanciale at Mercadona is here to stay, opening a new stage for carbonara lovers who seek the most genuine recipe without complications.

The reality is that with this move, Mercadona reaffirms its capacity to adapt and innovate, bringing high-quality products and tradition directly to kitchens across Spain.