Traditional Catalan dessert finds audience in Barcelona's tourist-flooded centre

In Barcelona's Born neighborhood, on a corner behind the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, where international dessert trends have increasingly taken over storefronts, one shop is trying to bring attention back to a traditional Catalan classic, the crema catalana.

Sucre Cremat, 'burnt sugar' in Catalan, specializes in the iconic Catalan recipe, serving it in take-away format with different toppings and related products.

"The idea is a mix between a Catalan souvenir and gastronomy," Ingrid, one of the shop's workers, said.

Customers can eat the dessert while walking through the city or take it home, but she says the goal is also cultural. "We wanted people to actually try Catalan culture," she said.

The concept was born partly as a response to the changing character of the neighborhood. In recent years, the Born has seen an increase in internationally inspired dessert stores, from donut shops to tiramisu bars.

"There are shops for everything here," Ingrid said. "But there wasn't a place like this, centered around a traditional Catalan product that is truly artisanally made."

The shop focuses on traditional crema catalana, eaten traditionally in small shallow ceramic dishes called 'cassoletes'. Visitors should not confuse it with French crème brûlée, something "most people" do at first, Ingrid said.

While crème brûlée uses cream and vanilla, crema catalana is lighter and more citrus-based, flavored with lemon, orange, and cinnamon. "The only thing they really share is the caramelized sugar on top," she explained.

When ordering the dessert, staff members regularly explain the history and ingredients to visitors, with recipes and cultural information displayed around the store. 

The delicacy is caramelized on the spot in front of customers using a modern version of the traditional hot iron paddle, known as a 'pala de cremar'. Each serving is topped with a 'carquinyoli', a traditional Catalan almond biscuit with a dry, crunchy texture.

"It's not just a dessert," Ingrid said. "For Catalans, it's something we've eaten since childhood."

While tourists make up a large share of customers, locals have also embraced the shop. Many Catalans are surprised to find a business in such a tourist-heavy area focused on authenticity.

"People expect it to be like the typical tourist stores," she said. "Then they realize we really care about the product."

The recipe itself stays traditional, but customers can customize the dessert with toppings including pistachio, raspberry, Lotus biscuit, and orange with chocolate.

Sucre Cremat has also expanded the flavor into other products to also be found in the shop, including coffee drinks, beer, ice cream, and traditional Catalan liquors.

"This store has pure Catalan essence," Ingrid said.