The Catalan city has turn into a vacationer spot the place the general public spends a day to attempt the brand new sweetsThe star nougat for Christmas continues to be the normal one, though increasingly more are choosing new merchandiseThe number of nougat has allowed them to be “seasonally adjusted” “Christmas and be consumed all year long
Nougat is an important product on Christmas tables, though in Agramunt (Lleida) it isn’t missing at any time of the 12 months. The Catalan city is understood for the manufacturing of this candy and several other manufacturers are dedicated to combining custom and innovation. From the basic hazelnut to one in every of donuts. A hit that draws vacationers en masse to attempt their scrumptious creations.
This is the case of Turrón Vicens, grasp craftsmen since 1775 who make greater than 350 references. Despite the truth that the star product continues to be the standard Agramunt, made with honey, hazelnuts or beforehand peeled and toasted almonds, the brand new varieties have managed to “deseasonalize” the nougat and “not make it a typical dessert” at Christmas.
“We are making a dessert that we are able to eat all year long. People allocate a day to come back and see how we produce them, along with attempting the novelties,” explains Àngel Velasco, proprietor of the Catalan model with greater than 53 shops.
A buying expertise that for a lot of turns into a playful exercise. “You can discover nougat in a grocery store or on the web, however seeing the artisan course of is satisfying,” Velasco acknowledges.
The recognition of the realm has additionally served to draw prospects on the lookout for new flavors, such because the Turrón Vicens donut. “It is likely one of the most bought and has turn into probably the most viral on social networks,” provides the proprietor a couple of product with style and taste of a donut-shaped bun.
In reality, one in every of their common collaborators is chef Albert Adrià, with whom they create new varieties yearly. This time they’ve made a pistachio nougat, whereas final 12 months it was cherry: “We have made a standard nougat by altering the almond, the principle ingredient, for one more that could be very standard and of top quality.”
“Success is combining custom with innovation and we’ve got remodeled the nougat trade in recent times. A banner that we’ve got carried and that different producers at the moment are signing as much as create new merchandise”, signifies Àngel Velasco, who has seen a rise in gross sales in his enterprise, through which the normal nougat continues to be one of the best vendor for Christmas.
National tourism to attempt the nougat in Agramunt
Another of the famend nougat masters within the city within the province of Lleida is that of Torrons Fèlix, which produces a variety of candy merchandise. However, the corporate has specialised within the line of signature nougats.
“We work exhausting to impress prospects. Although they shock us due to the kilometers they journey to come back purchase nougat,” says Zoe Valero Miró, an entrepreneur of the household enterprise.
The Immaculate Conception Bridge has additionally attracted many guests to the outskirts of the Catalan city. “These are days with a big inflow of individuals from all corners of Spain. From the Basque Country to Madrid. Taking benefit of the time when the ski resorts are opening, they arrive to Agramunt to purchase nougat,” he acknowledges.
In his case, the model’s novelty is a 100% pistachio ingot-shaped nougat, with a line of white chocolate and a caramelized pistachio crunch. “During the 12 months they search for one thing totally different as a result of it tastes extra like a dessert than an old style nougat. But at Christmas it is a extra conventional second and so they don’t need these of a lifetime on the desk to be lacking,” he says.
On the opposite hand, inflation has been a figuring out issue regardless of the “optimistic” analysis of the season: “The rise in uncooked supplies and electrical energy is noticeable. When we began the marketing campaign, the prospects weren’t good on this context of inflation, however we’re very proud of the reply.
The public continues to purchase an important product to have a good time Christmas lunches and dinners. “They need to have them on the desk and, regardless of the circumstances, they proceed to purchase it,” he concludes.