Turrón, a quintessential Spanish Christmas treat, takes pride of place on festive tables across the country. The Spanish consumer organisation OCU has reviewed a selection of these popular sweets to help shoppers choose the best options for the holiday season.
What is Turrón?
Turrón is a traditional Spanish confection made primarily from almonds, honey, and sugar. Its origins date back to the Moorish period, with influences from Arabic culinary traditions. Typically, turrón comes in two main varieties: turrón duro (hard turrón), which has a brittle texture, and turrón de Jijona (soft turrón), which is creamy and smooth due to finely ground almonds. Over the years, variations have expanded to include chocolate, dried fruits, and innovative flavours.
This sweet is synonymous with Christmas in Spain, deeply tied to family traditions and festive gatherings. Its popularity stems from its rich history, versatility, and the cultural significance of sharing it during the holidays. For many, no Christmas table is complete without a selection of turrón.
A staple of Spanish festive traditions
Supermarkets across Spain are already brimming with seasonal treats. As families gather for Christmas, traditional sweets like chocolates, polvorones, mantecados, and turrón take centre stage. Its long shelf life and easy availability make it an ideal choice for gifting or indulging at home throughout the holiday season.
Variety of flavours and types
The market offers a wide range of turrón options. While the classic varieties remain staples, recent years have seen an influx of innovative—and sometimes unusual—flavours. To guide consumers, the OCU assessed popular hard and soft turrón varieties based on quality, price, ingredients, and labelling.
What makes quality Turrón?
The OCU focused on ingredients when rating products. It prioritised natural sweeteners like honey and sugar while criticising less healthy options such as corn syrup.
Chocolate turrón remains a highly sought-after variety. However, according to the OCU, quality issues persist. To save costs, some manufacturers replace cocoa butter with cheaper fats like palm oil or shea. None of the 17 chocolate turrón products reviewed earned a quality rating due to these substitutions and the use of additives for flavour enhancement.
Best Turrón of 2024: OCU recommendations
For turrón de Jijona (soft turrón), Antiu Xixona emerged as the top pick, boasting 70% almond content. Close contenders were Delaviuda and Lidl’s Dor brand, each with an almond content of 67%.
In the turrón duro (hard turrón) category, Lidl’s Dor brand claimed the top spot. It impressed with its 63% almond content and excellent balance of texture and flavour. It was also deemed the best value for money compared to Eroski Seleqtia and Antiu Xixona.
Making the right choice
When shopping for turrón this Christmas, consider ingredient quality and almond content for the best taste and value. Whether you prefer hard or soft turrón, the OCU’s recommendations ensure a festive season filled with authentic Spanish flavours. With its deep-rooted history and cultural significance, turrón remains a delicious way to celebrate Christmas traditions in Spain.