Leรณn‘s ‘Merlitรณn’ Pastry: A Century-old Sweet โคRescuedโ from Oblivion
Leรณn, Spain โ- A delicate, caramelized pastryโข called the ‘merlitรณn’โ is captivating palates inโฃ castile and Leรณn, though it frequently enough flies under โthe โฃradarโฃ despiteโ a history stretching back over aโฃ century. Whileโค visually reminiscentโข of portugal’s โfamed Belรฉm cake, the Leonese merlitรณn is a distinct confection,โ born โฃin theโค early 20th century and currently preserved by a single pastry shop upholding the original recipe.
The recipe originated at the renowned ‘la Coyantina’ confectionery, โunder โฃthe direction of master pastry chef Santiago Pรฉrez Garcรญa, โขa pivotal figure inโข Leรณn’s culinary landscape.โ Today,his โขlegacy โคlives on atโค nazarรฉ Puff Pastry,where the โ merlitรณn is not merely a tradition,but aโข celebrated local icon.
The pastryโ features a handmade, all-butter puff pastry โbase, prized for its signature crunch, filled with a delicate, homemade custard cream. Aโค final layer of โฃcaramelized sugarโข completes the treat. โ
“Many people confuse it with a Portuguese โคcake, โbut it is a very old recipe of more than โ100 years โthatโ weโ have โrecovered filled with artisan pastry cream,” explains Javierโ Losada, founder of Nazarรฉ Hojaldrerรญa.
Itsโ limitedโ three-day โfreshness and resistanceโข to โindustrial production contribute to its allure, encouraging aโข mindful enjoyment – best paired with โcoffee and savored without haste. โSocial media buzz reflects this devotion, with customers describing a near-addictiveโ captivation withโค the pastry.
