Santa Tome mazapan in Barcelona?

Oh, I loved that stuff, too. It didn't occur to me to look for it in Barcelona, but I spent nine days on foot in the city and never noticed a sign suggesting Santa Tome marzipan products were available, so I'm afraid you will not have any luck in that city. Have you tried Googling?

I have, but it didn't seem to get me anywhere.

Perhaps Enric will have better news.

Nope, Santa Tome marzipan sweets are local to Toledo... so it's alien here -different culture, different traditions, sorry. This is not to say you can't find it perhaps distributed at El Corte Ingles supermarket, one of the few "federal" stores (so to speak, LOL) -this is after all a global world these days.

However, marzipan is a very common ingredient for sweets in many cultures in Europe, both in the South of Europe as well as in Central and Eastern Europe. So it is in our culture here in Catalonia, thus you can indeed find marzipan in many types of desserts and sweets, such as "panellets" (typical for All Saints' Day in November) as well as in "torró de massapà" (marzipan nougat).

IMHO, one of the best is produced by Vicens, an old Catalan company located in Agramunt that has been producing nougat since 1775 --yep, you weren't born yet ;) You can find turrons from Vicens (and other companies) in many supermarkets and patisseries and also in their own branded shops located across the city. Sirvent is another good manufacturer. They have two shops, both located in Barcelona, one in Carrer Parlament, 60 and the other in Balmes, 130

Worth mentioning the "tortell de massapà" (marzipan cake), typical of the Catalan cuisine. Originally it was only baked and sold only during the festivity of Els Tres Tombs in January 17th, but you can now find it all year long in a few patisseries, such as La Colmena (Plaça de l'Àngel, 12) or at La Montserratina (Carrer Santa Anna, 39). A variation of this cake is the "tortell de Reis" (Kings' cake), which is "the" dessert on Jan 6th, during the celebration of Epiphany, or the "Three Wise Men" or the "Three Kings' Day", also known as Biblical Magi. This one is a treat for the kids... due to the hidden surprises.

Yet there are quite a few other pastries in which marzipan plays a central role and that you can find in many patisseries across the city. I would recommend visiting one of these and simply ask for "pastissets de massapà" (roughly pahs-tea-sehts-duh-mah-sa-pah) and the shop assistant will know: La Colmena, Escribà, Hofmann, La Pastisseria, Baixas, Foix. Just Google the names and the words "pastisseria barcelona" and you'll get the addresses.

Enjoy!

PS. For God Sake, we have some of the best confectioners in the world that provide all sorts of delicious treats made with natural ingredients in the traditional artisan way... don't fall for the industrial brands in the shelves of the supermarkets next to the cookies. Head for a patisserie instead!

Muchas gracias Enric. I have to say I've tried mazapan all over and have never had any quite like Santa Tome. However, I will look for the brands you mentioned and hopefully my opinion will change. I only want small quantities since it will just be me and I don't want to gain tons of weight eating a whole box of them or cake of it :-D.

De res.

I guess though that when it comes to the real thing made at patisseries it all depends on the artisan :))

Oh that Santo Tome marzipan is the best. I brought 2 boxes home last year - 1 for home and 1 for the office - and both were immediately consumed.