Costa Blanca Life – Delicious Chocolates and Sweets in Spain

There are so many excellent reasons to move to the Costa Blanca, the wonderful weather, the excellent Mediterreanean food, the air of relaxation, the history and for those with a sweet tooth there is also plenty of choice. Spain has a passion for food and its excellent tapas and paella have international recognition but, they also enjoy a rich dessert, a tasty treat and a bar of good quality chocolate and produce these with excellence.

Confectioners in Spain

Spanish confectioners offer an incredible array of sweet treats including artisanal chocolates and are adept at combining traditional techniques with modern flavours. Bakers display a mouthwatering range of pastries and cakes and restaurants offer home cooked delightful desserts to conclude your meal along with the icing on the cake of a local bite sized chocolate to accompany your coffee.

A Chocolate Lover’s Paradise in the Costa Blanca

Spain’s history and love affair with chocolate dates back to the introduction of it to the country by the 16th century conquistadors with todays chocolate makers in Spain pushing boundaries with exquisite and exciting colletions to tantalize the taste buds. We are so lucky in the Costa Blanca because this is the home of one of the country’s most famous and oldest chocolate factories. Valor has been producing their high-quality chocolate since 1700 offering a wide range of classic dark bars to originally flavoured chocolate and also cater for the needs of diabtics with a range of chocolates that contain no added sugar.

Sweet Treat Paradise

Spain and particularly the Costa Blanca also offer many other traditional sweet delights to indulge in on special occasions. Many of the local offering use ingredients grown in the area which why many sweet treats are almond based. One of Spain’s favourite treats comes in a variety of flavours including almond, hazelnut and chocolate, Turrón is enjoyed especially at Christmas and one of the most famous brands is produced in Jijona, a town inland from Alicante. Mazapán also very much enjoyed in Spain and made by almonds grown in the Mediterranean sun. It is often artistically shaped in to figures, fruits, animals and religious icons.

Pastries and Desserts

 Churros are fried dough sticks a little bit like dounghnuts in texture and taste they can be dipped either in sugar or traditionally particularly in the winter time in thick hot chocolate. They have a become a popular street food often to be found cooked and served freshly from mobil vans at local markets, fiesta and fairs.

The caramel sauce  Dulce de Leche, it is basically condensed milk and is often used in Spain to fill pastries and cakes. If you need a comforting, warming, winter dessert, Arroz con Leche is a rice pudding frequently flavoured with cinnamon and lemon zest. Pastel de Boniato is a unique and delicious sweet potato which is very popular in the Costa Blanca. Most restaurants will offer both Crema Catalana and  Natilla on their desert menus, Crema Catalan is similar to Crème Brulee with a smooth texture and caramelised sugar on the top and Natilla is a similarly made custard dessert but without a crusty sugar topping. Crepes and various flavours or ice-cream and sorbet are also traditional ending to a pleasant meal.

Where to find the Best Treats in Spain

The Costa Blanca is without doubt the place to start!!! Turron from Jijona Alicante province is world famous and Valor chocolate factory and museum is on the coast in the pretty town of Villajoyosa. Most towns and cities have a great selection of chocolate and pastry shops and in larger cities like Alicante and Valencia you may be allowed to try a small morsel before making your purchase. You can also buy these delicacies online from the comfort of your home in the Costa Blanca if you aren’t in the mood for a shopping trip.

Conclusion

The culinary traditions of Spain incorporate every possible taste whether you enjoy savory, sweet or both the range of possiblities is evolving and making its mark internationally too. The artisanal sweet treats and chocolates offer something that will satisfy everyone who has a sweet tooth. Why not occasionally allow yourself to indulge in these locally produced tasty delights?