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As a city that loves cocoa Barcelona fights to ensure its traceability. Local master chocolatiers are increasingly advocating collaboration with local producers and maintaining close dialogue with cocoa farmers in their place of origin. This philosophy is known internationally as bean-to-bar.
This connection with the roots is combined with unmatched creativity in most of Barcelona’s chocolate shops. To help you discover it first-hand, here is a route through five of the best with information about their star products so that you can taste them before a big music concert. High quality, both in music and chocolate, is non-negotiable.
Oriol Balaguer, elevate your chocolate experience
At just 21, Oriol Balaguer was recognized as the Best Artisan Pastry Master in Spain and, since then, he has not stopped winning prestigious awards that position him as one of the most important figures in the world of chocolate today. Balaguer has developed a sweet gastronomy inspired by architecture and design culture, which seeks perfection in and balance between artisanal techniques and flavour.
To discover his ingenuity try High Techocolate chocolates and tablets. These innovative products combine chocolate with freeze-dried foods, providing a fresh, crunchy dimension. Each purchase includes a DVD exploring the fascinating technology and history behind the product. The Tea Time cookies with shortcrust pastry, crispy gianduja and lemon juice, truffles and chocolates inspired by the city of Barcelona are other tasty treats not to be missed.
Discover the artisan universe of LOT Roasters
Úrsula Pérez and Cristian Larrosa, the visionary creators behind LOT Roasters, have transformed a former textile warehouse in the heart of l’Eixample into the perfect epicentre of their dedication to artisanal chocolate and coffee. Traceability is the cornerstone of this exciting project, they meticulously follow the journey of cocoa from Peru to Barcelona, where it is transformed into irresistible chocolate bars.
This dedication to a job well done means they are trusted by many Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. But LOT Roasters isn’t just about chocolate; they also offer creative sweets and cakes and drinks such as chai with Japanese pepper, cocoa husk, ginger and Chinese cinnamon. Passion, traceability and excellence come together as a unique experience in every bite and sip.
Bubó – Sustainable chocolates that look like jewels
In 2005, Bubó realised a dream by opening a pastry shop in Barcelona that offered unique cakes, chocolates and sweets. By creating a fresh, modern and innovative space, they set out to establish a new sweet universe in the city. They transformed the pastry shop experience, inspired by the design of a jewellery store, both in terms of aesthetics, the quality of the product and the presentation of its creations.
In addition to the classic Sacher and Choco Deluxe cakes, their famous Macadams also stand out, caramelised macadamias with white chocolate, vanilla beans, fleur de sel and cocoa. They also make creations for special occasions, such as their brilliant My Heart for Valentine’s Day, emoji-shaped monkeys for Easter or chocolate pumpkins for Halloween. All of their artisanal creations are characterised by the use of high-quality raw materials and sustainable ingredients.
Cacao Sampaka, a love of history and art
Cacao Sampaka has been elevating cocoa to its highest expression and giving it a meaningful purpose for more than twenty years. Here they select and treat this ingredient with the respect it deserves, strictly following the bean-to-bar philosophy and taking care of every detail from the selection to the presentation of the end product. Their Innovation also respects tradition as may be seen in the 100% cocoa bars and the exclusive collections of assorted chocolates and pralines.
Many of their products are made with cocoa from remote and select plantations and preserve the original flavours and aromas. Be sure to try the Legendary Cacaos, from the best cocoa producing areas in the world, or the Spices, infused with saffron and cardamom, among others. Innovative tablets are not to be forgotten either, some being inspired by the mosaics of the Alhambra in Granada, and have such surprising flavours for example cappuccino or gin and tonic.
The hidden chocolate shop of the Xocolata Museum
The Xocolata Museum is much more than a cocoa information centre. The captivating store in its lobby, specialising in bean-to-bar will conquer you from the very first moment. Each tablet here has complete traceability based on direct collaboration with small farmers. This helps to perfect the fermentation and drying processes. You can also delight your senses with exquisite hot chocolate.
Once inside the museum, delve into the fascinating journey of cocoa from America to Europe. Discover chocolate sculptures paying tribute to icons of local architecture, such as Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, as well as various characters from popular culture. Until March, the temporary exhibition explores the impact of Joan Miró on the chocolate artist Stéphane Leroux, who has created six unique figures made from Belcolade’s Traceable Chocolate.
