Chocolate and nougat

Chocolate Village...

Vila Joiosa smells of cocoa and roasted almonds. Vila Joiosa smells of chocolate. Waking up to the aroma of this sweet "liquid gold" is a unique experience reserved for the privileged few who live in or visit this town. Since the 19th century, the chocolate industry has been one of Vila Joiosa's traditional economic activities, and although only three factories and four brands remain active today, over seventy brands have been recorded throughout the years.

The importance of the port of La Vila Joiosa in the 18th and 19th centuries likely contributed to the proliferation of this "sweet" industry. Large ships laden with textiles and cigarette paper from Alcoy departed from La Vila Joiosa for the Americas, and on their return voyages, they carried loads of cocoa. The first "industries" were artisanal and developed in the backyards of houses as a supplementary activity to agriculture.

A highly recommended and essential visit to the factories of Chocolates Valor, Chocolates Clavileño, and Chocolates Pérez offers a firsthand look at the chocolate-making process and the history of the local industry. In addition to shops offering a wide variety of products from different brands, all three factories also house museums that explain their history and the importance of our city to the chocolate industry. In fact, the Chocolates Valor museum was declared the Valencian Chocolate Museum in 2008.

There's also Chocolates Marcos Tonda, which maintains its brand's distribution center in the town, along with its own shop where you can discover and sample its wide variety of products. And last but not least, there's the newest brand, Toni Garsi, an artisanal and organic chocolate producer.

This drink of the gods has shaped the history of La Vila Joiosa and the character of its inhabitants. So every time you savor an ounce, a chocolate, or a cup of hot chocolate, remember that “God gave wings to angels and chocolate to La Vila Joiosa.”

...and nougat

Marcona almonds from the Mediterranean orchards and orange blossom honey are the main ingredients of turrón, the quintessential Christmas sweet. In La Vila Joiosa, this sweet has its own name: Carremi. Four generations of master turrón makers have preserved the essence of this confection, prioritizing quality over quantity. Like Chocolates Pérez, Carremi holds the "Valencian Community Crafts Seal" because it maintains traditional production methods. Carremi products are distributed in traditional and gourmet shops; some are signature specialties, such as "Soft Stone-Ground Turrón," while others are true works of art, like the "Pan de Cádiz," handcrafted one by one in their workshop.

Don't miss the Chocolate and Turrón Route, it's finger-licking good.