Turrón Alicante, a fabulous Honey Almond Brittle, is the favorite of the La Tienda community. And the master turrón maker Antonio Colomina creates the best. He provides it to the Royal Family.

Antonio has cut the honey almond bars especially for La Tienda in generous 400 gr, 14 oz portions - 1/3 larger than our normal turrones. This classic makes a tasteful gift -- or you can simply bring it home as a magnificent Christmas treat.

Antonio roasts and lightly chops premium Marcona almonds in a large drum. Then he simmers the chunks of almonds in honey and sugar,occasionally stirring the glorious mixture with a large wooden spoon. Then, after adding egg white to bind the mixture, he lets it cool in a mold. Finally the Alicante turrón is covered with a thin wafer (made by the same people who make communion wafers).   (more info)

Turrón Alicante, a fabulous Honey Almond Brittle, is the favorite of the La Tienda community. And the master turrón maker Antonio Colomina creates the best. He provides it to the Royal Family.

Antonio has cut the honey almond bars especially for La Tienda in generous 400 gr, 14 oz portions - 1/3 larger than our normal turrones. This classic makes a tasteful gift -- or you can simply bring it home as a magnificent Christmas treat.

Antonio roasts and lightly chops premium Marcona almonds in a large drum. Then he simmers the chunks of almonds in honey and sugar,occasionally stirring the glorious mixture with a large wooden spoon. Then, after adding egg white to bind the mixture, he lets it cool in a mold. Finally the Alicante turrón is covered with a thin wafer (made by the same people who make communion wafers).

That's it: Pure and simple: Toasted Marcona Almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites.(Additional ingredients listed on the wrapper refer to the wafer.)

It takes an artist with generations of experience behind him to make the proper Xixona turrón. Antonio Colomina is recognized as one of the most accomplished turroneros in the world. Visitors to Antonio's stores know the luxury of buying turrón which is hand cut from large blocks. The turrón is meticulously cut and sold by weight using the original antique scales. Then, at the store, each piece is wrapped by hand.

The Colomina family has been artisan turrón makers for generations. Antonio's father and their fathers before them have been making handmade turrón in the village of Jijona (Alicante) from Marcona almonds and pure honey since the early 19th century. Originally they only made turrón on a seasonal basis.

Towards the end of the 19th century the Colomina family began taking the handmade products to Barcelona just prior to the Christmas season where the family would sell their artisan products in the city. The enterprise was so successful that by 1908 the family established themselves in Barcelona where they opened four shops in the Gothic Quarter of the city.

The same original stores are open today. One is located at Cucurulla Nº 2; another at Portaferssa Nº 8, the third at Quevedo Nº 9, and a fourth store on la Gran de Gracia Nº 57. Visitors from all over the world have experienced the charm and warmth of coming into any one of these historical shops in Barcelona. Nothing has changed from the early days when their doors first opened. They are landmarks in the city.

We discovered Casa Colomina on Cucurulla Nº 2 this past year while attending a food show in Barcelona. We immediately were attracted to the magnificent early 1900's display window proudly showing the Jijona and Alicante style turrones which were obviously made in Jijona, as each of Antonio's products display the Denominación de Origen 'Jijona'.

The Colomina family now lives year round in Barcelona but travels back and forth to the village of Jijona where their original 19th century factory still stands today. These products are made by hand, and have become recognized around the world as the finest of all artisan turrones.
  (less info)