They are known throughout Spain: six towns in Aragon famous for their gastronomic products

If there is something that the Aragonese people can be proud of, it is, without a doubt, the flavours of their 
gastronomy. In Spain and in various corners of the world, they know this, and for this reason, Aragonese products are often seen as proof of the seal of quality that we can taste in our country or that we can even export to other nations.

The gastronomy of the Aragonese towns is tasty, thanks to products such as their meats and sausages; and it is also healthy, thanks to the fruits and vegetables from orchards such as those of the Ebro basin. However, in this food “summum”, there are six Aragonese towns that stand out, each famous for a particular product, which have been on people’s “word of mouth” since time immemorial and which have the C’ Alial seal, the Quality Guarantee Mark of the Government of Aragon.

What are these towns? What is the product for which they are known? Is their food really of a quality that you cannot find anywhere else? If you want to clear up these three unknowns, keep reading. Because in this article we present six Aragonese towns famous in every corner for their gastronomic products.

THE SIX ARAGONESE VILLAGES WITH QUALITY GUARANTEE

This list includes three towns from the province of Huesca , two from the province of Teruel and, finally, one from the province of Zaragoza . Each of these Aragonese towns stands out for a particular product.

Some of them have won several of the most important gastronomic awards in the world and, more specifically, two of them have the acclaimed category of Protected Designation of Origin. Let’s see which ones they are:

Almudévar: Almudévar braid

We begin this list with one of the most popular sweets in Spain: the Almudévar braid. In addition to its great castle, its hermitages and its churches, the Huesca town of Almudévar is known throughout the world for this product that generates “guilty pleasures”.

For those who haven’t tried this dish, the Almudévar braid is a piece of puff pastry with butter, made with sourdough fermented for 72 hours, and filled with a special egg yolk, walnuts, sliced ​​almonds and raisins soaked in rum. The final touch is a glazed covering to give it a shine and a crunchy texture.

The iconic artisan flavour of the Almudévar braid, made by the homely headquarters of Pastelerías Tolosana, has become a benchmark and quality brand among the Aragonese towns and, more recently, throughout the country, as it has come to satisfy the palates of icons such as Victoria Abril or Mikel López “ El Comidista ”.

Barbastro: Pink Tomato

We continue through the lands of Huesca to highlight the pink tomato of Barbastro, probably one of the most decorated Aragonese products to date. The pink tomato of Barbastro is a variety that, at first glance, stands out for its large size and the characteristic colour that gives it its name.

However, when you taste it, you realise that this tomato is unlike anything you have ever tasted before. It is a very meaty product, with a thin skin and hardly any seeds. It also has a very balanced mix of sweetness and acidity.

Today, the pink tomato from Barbastro is very popular, thanks to its promotion through events such as the local Fruit and Vegetable Show or the National Pink Tomato Congress, held within the framework of the Barbastro Regional Fair. Living proof that Aragon is proud of this product and tirelessly seeks to spread its fame to all corners.

Calanda: Peach

We travel from Huesca to Teruel to reach Calanda, land of filmmakers like Buñuel, of miracles and also of peaches. The Calanda peach has deservedly achieved the category of Protected Designation of Origin thanks to its size, its colour without streaks, its flavour and its sweetness.

But what is the key to achieving this impact? Differentiation of the Calanda peach is based on two techniques when it comes to cultivation and harvesting: thinning and bagging. The former seeks to eliminate a significant part of the fruit from each tree in order to obtain uniformity in their sizes.

Meanwhile, the second seeks to keep the peaches packaged and protected from any air pollution until the time of harvesting. This production process is centuries old, since historical records attest to the existence and production of the Calanda peach since the Middle Ages . A centuries-old process that has led to a great impact and expansion of sales throughout the community of Aragonese cities and towns.

Ebro springs: Onion

We come to the only Aragonese town belonging to Zaragoza on this list, Fuentes de Ebro. When one wonders about the particularity and differentiation of one onion from another, it will surely be difficult to notice a difference; but it exists, and it is found precisely in very specific nuances.

The Fuentes de Ebro onion stands out for these nuances, as it is a straw-white onion, juicy due to its high water content and, above all, it is different from the others for its smooth , digestive flavour, with little spiciness and a slight aftertaste in the mouth .

These properties make it the perfect onion to caramelize without the need to add sugar or to complement a salad to suit the general public, without excessive spiciness. These characteristics have led the Fuentes de Ebro onion to receive the Protected Designation of Origin category.

Graus: Sausage

The Renaissance town hall and the Basilica of the Virgen de la Peña are some of the most emblematic monuments that Graus has to offer. However, it also has a gastronomic monument: its longaniza (sausage). Graus longaniza, like the Calanda Peach, is a centuries-old product, whose origins date back to the 16th century.

At that time, this artisanal sausage was already circulating in every corner of the Aragonese villages, and today it is very famous throughout the country thanks to its spectacular flavour, made with the best cuts of pork (at least 70% lean pork and no more than 30% bacon, jowls or pork belly).

This process, complemented with seasonings such as salt, pepper, nutmeg and anise, make the Graus sausage one of the tastiest and most multidisciplinary products in Aragonese gastronomy. And you can eat it in various ways: roasted or fried, in sandwiches, in a mixed dish with potatoes, in lentils or stews or even served in slices as a tapa. The limit to its variety is set by you .

Tronchón: Cheese

We end this list with a product that moves the most exquisite palates, cheese, specifically, Tronchón cheese. This natural variety from the Maestrazgo region of Teruel stands out for its circular shape, with a volcano-shaped hole on both sides and a characteristic flower-shaped design on its rind.

Its flavour is deep and intense, and it is made with raw or pasteurised milk from sheep, goat or both, depending on the livestock available at the time. Of course, it is always made with Aragonese sheep breeds, such as the Rasa or the Guirra , among others. With the C’ Alial seal on its face since 2008, the texture and flavour of Tronchón cheese have become so famous that its production has even spread to territories such as the Valencian Community, in provinces such as Castellón.

But it is not surprising, since historical records confirm that by 1615 it was already a famous cheese throughout Spain. So famous that even Miguel de Cervantes mentioned it in two chapters of his magnum opus, “ The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha ”, further proof of the influence and mark of the Aragonese people on the country.

In this way, Aragon, with its rich tradition and passion for authentic flavours, has made these six villages the guardians of its culinary legacy. Each product, from the delicate braid of Almudévar to the intense cheese of Tronchón, carries with it the history, effort and dedication of the precursors of the Aragonese villages. With their Quality Guarantee mark, they are more than just food; they are symbols of identity, pride and excellence. Because you can travel through Aragon visiting its culture and heritage, but it is also necessary to take “trips” of flavours through its products, through its identity. Try these native products when you have the chance! You won’t regret it.