Hedonic Tasting of Jijona Nougat

“In the blink of an eye, we find ourselves already in the octave of All Saints’ Day. Its curious and varied carousel of panellets, chrysanthemums, chestnuts, and saffron milk caps has passed before us at an almost incredible speed. In passing, a freshness that captivates has fallen upon us. The saffron milk cap hunters, in full fever, obsessed as ever, are discouraged to see the thermometer. This is over; we’ll only find gray knight mushrooms now, they explain, a little desolate. Indeed, everything has a wintery face. The hostile wind awaits you on street corners. The old women have taken the socks out of the closet. Those from Xixona have put the little showcase of the first nougats to cover the ice creams. But every cloud has a silver lining. The shopkeepers have to wield other resources to justify their lack of joy. In other years, as is known, in November they always exclaim the same: “How do you expect us to sell with such good weather?”

Xavier Amorós: “Tomb de Ravals”, 1991.

Amorós was right, indeed. November is a leisurely month at the counter but high-speed in our workshops. The smell of toasted almonds, cinnamon, honey, and lemon inundates everything. We want to share these aromas and sensations with you, now that we have time to talk in the store and the Christmas rush doesn’t pressure us to go fast. Also, due to the weather, the raw materials this year are excellent. That is why, from Xics torroners (Association of nougat makers from Xixona in Catalonia: www.xicstorroners.cat) we have organized a hedonic tasting of Jijona nougat, the apple of our eye of our nougat shops. We start from south to north, from Reus to Palafrugell. In each nougat shop you will find your Jijona nougat, the one from your city, the one that has accompanied you for so many years, and some more surprises. Each nougat shop is unique and that is why the tasting will also be. You already know us and we believe that perhaps you can guess how each of us will surprise you.