Tipo 00 Italian Pizza & Pasta Flour (Pack of 5 x 3lb) - Artisan Milled

In this review the Matthews Cotswold Tipo 00 flour is examined for home bakers and small kitchens seeking authentic Italian texture without importing sacks from abroad. The bottom line: this pack of five 3 lb bags delivers a finely milled, elastic white flour that produces highly extensible dough with excellent hydration, ideal for thin crust pizza and fresh pasta. The review focuses on milling provenance, dough performance, and practical tips for everyday use so cooks can decide if this flour fits their routines.

Key Features

• Tipo 00 grind: A very fine Doppio 0 milling creates a silky white flour that yields smooth, elastic dough for thin pizza crusts and delicate pasta.
• Ancient Italian durum blend: The flour is blended from authentic Sicilian and Abruzzo durum wheats, supplying regional flavour nuances often missing in generic flours.
• Milled in the Cotswolds: The Matthews family mills the imported wheats locally, which helps control consistency and preserves the intended texture.
• Low to moderate gluten for extensibility: The formula produces an extensible dough that stretches easily without snapping, making it simple to shape thin bases.
• Great Taste recognition: Awarded in the Great Taste awards, indicating notable flavour and quality among artisanal flours.

Who It's For

This flour suits home cooks and hobbyist pizza makers who prioritise fine texture and authentic Italian performance in doughs. It is especially useful for cooks wanting a product that handles like traditional pizza and pasta flour without specialist importing or handling large commercial sacks.

Those who need a very high-protein strong bread flour for heavy, chewy loaves or industrial-scale baking should look elsewhere; this Tipo 00 is tuned for extensible, lighter crusts and fresh pasta rather than dense artisan loaves.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Exceptionally fine milling produces soft, elastic dough that hydrates well and rolls thin without tearing.
• Blended ancient durum wheats bring subtle regional flavour that improves fresh pasta and thin pizzas.
• Pack of five 3 lb bags provides convenient quantities for regular home use and keeps the main supply sealed.

Cons

• Lower gluten profile means it is not ideal as a direct swap for strong bread flour in heavy loaves.

Specifications

Product	Tipo 00 Italian multipurpose flour
Pack size	5 x 3 lb bags
Flour type	Doppio 0 white pizza and pasta flour
Wheat source	Ancient durum varieties from Sicily and Abruzzo, Italy
Milled	Cotswold mill run by the Matthews family
Primary uses	Pizza dough and fresh pasta

Our Verdict

For home pizza and pasta makers seeking authentic Italian texture, the Matthews Cotswold Tipo 00 delivers consistent, finely milled performance and distinctive durum character at a fair value. The pack format keeps kitchens stocked and the milling provenance is a meaningful plus, making it a smart choice for cooks focused on thin crusts and silky pasta rather than heavy bread baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this flour for pasta?
Yes, it is well suited to fresh pasta; for firmer shape combine with semolina or follow the tip to use eggs and rest the dough before rolling.

Is this the same as bread flour?
No, Tipo 00 is finely milled with lower gluten than strong bread flour, so it excels at extensible pizza bases and pasta rather than dense artisan loaves.

How should I handle the dough?
Dampen hands slightly when working the dough and allow at least 30 minutes rest at room temperature for best elasticity and hydration.