A process for manufacturing an embossed paperboard comprising the steps of: forming a wet mat including more than 60 wt % of cellulose fibers; pressure molding, with at least one embossing roll, the wet mat having 20 to 70 wt % solid to create a nested surface texture thereon; and drying the embossed wet mat to obtain the embossed paperboard with a grammage ranging between 125 and 1500 grams per square meter.