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Chestnut grove atmosphere with panellets of sweet wine, chestnuts and sweet potatoes, in this case, in the town of Mura, in the Bages region, and in Gavà, in Baix Llobregat, although the festival will be experienced with intensity in many other places . In these images in La Vanguardia Readers' Photos we can see the essential ingredients.
The origin of the Castañada festival dates back to the 18th century, as a derivation of funeral meals. Currently, it is celebrated with family or friends, more like a festival.
La Castañada as a festival would have been in force for four centuries. It has traditionally come down to us as a festival in which chestnuts roasted over a fire, sweet potatoes cooked in the oven and panellets are eaten, sweets made with a dough of sugar, egg yolk and almond, in addition to other increasingly varied ingredients.
The Barcelona Pastry Guild expects to maintain its panellet sales with at least 250 tons and highlights the coexistence of this campaign with the celebration of the imported Halloween party.
The president of the entity, Antoni Bellart, states that "youth do Halloween, but with panellets." This year, with the good temperatures, these sweets can even be eaten "on the beach."
The pastry chef highlights that the profit margin is shrinking year after year and that prices have not been raised this campaign, despite high inflation, which has increased the cost of sugar and eggs. However, "luckily, the price of pine nuts has fallen" and that has meant that sales prices have not been touched.
