Torrons Vicens is a specialty store that sells turrón, a type of nougat. Usually eaten around Christmas, it is made of almonds, sugar, honey and egg whites and shaped into blocks of varying lengths. The company specializes in Agramunt turron, named after its city of origin. It is so treasured that it has protected status from the Spanish government. With the city located inside Catalonia, Torrons Vicens has shops located across the region with the largest concentration in Barcelona.
This branch is located right across from the Sagrada Família. One of the tour guides recommended this shop for local souvenirs to take back home. When I visited the Sagrada Família a few days later, I also came back here to shop for said delicacies.
I was impressed with the selection of nougats as they came in all different flavors and textures. The traditional circular-shaped nougat is sold along with hard- and soft- versions of the brick-shaped nougats. I was particularly attracted to the "natura" line, which is a collaboration between Vicens and Albert Adrià (former pastry chef of El Bulli and now the chef-owner of the El Barri restaurant group [Tickets, Enigma]). They sold small and large versions of their blocks. With the small blocks being €5 and the large blocks 5 for €55 I bought a combination of blocks with the intention of the small blocks as gifts for friends and the large blocks to share with family.
- The small blocks had more non-traditional flavors such as rice pudding, curry and strawberry and rosemary truffle. I handed those at a Yelp Elite event the next week and said treats were appreciated.
- The larger blocks had more conventional flavors such as toasted corn and lime truffle, pumpkin seeds, vermouth and bread and salt. Every flavor I brought back was appreciated save for vermouth as the recipient of the vermouth chocolate did not appreciate the strong alcoholic content.
They also sold samples of their drinking chocolate which is more of an accompaniment to churros than an actual hot chocolate. Keep this in mind. Still dense and kept me warm on a cool day in early March.
Many thanks to the tour guide Jessie at Runner Bean for the recommendation! I enjoyed this chocolate and I look forward to having this again should I ever find myself back here. read more