Catània chocolates

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The Casa Cudié, founded in 1946, invented catànies in 1986. Currently they are one of the typical sweets from Vilafranca del Penedès. In the 1940s, Josep Cudié opened a small workroom to make chocolates. The invention of the catània, which was initially known as cro-cream almond, and its immediate success, made it its most emblematic product, recognised by the Gremi de Bomboners-Xocolaters Artesans de Barcelona. Catànies are made with toasted caramelised almonds which are covered in a paste made of almonds, hazelnuts and milk; they are then covered again with a cocoa powder and refined sugar. The most popular are made with Marcona almonds and are covered in dried fruit praline. They are usually eaten for dessert and coffee or during festivals and celebrations. Some people eat them with yoghurt and, in summer, catània ice cream is also available. There are even couples who, upon marrying, exchange a little bag with catànies. Others say that they have aphrodisiac powers. Currently, catànies have reached markets in the whole of Catalonia and Spain and even 15% of production is exported to other countries in Europe and America. Bombons Cudié offers the possibility of visiting the workroom where the new turrón de catànies can be tried.
Regions
Alt Penedès
Season
All year round

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