today news calcotades a catalan tradition

It is the time of the year for Calçotades, but what are they?   Where do they come from?  How did they begin?

The essential ingredient is Spring Onions, called Calçots.  These are cooked on large barbeques and then dipped in the traditional and delicious sauce, “Salsa Calçots”.

Calçots is the word used to describe the type of spring onion used during these festivals, due to the way they are grown.  The onion shoots are covered with soil, which gives the spring onions their typical white, long and narrow shape.  The action of covering the shoots is called “Calçar”, where the term “Calçots” developed from.

This type of planting was first practised by farmer Xat de Benaiges, from the Tarragona region, Spain, towards the end of the 19th Century.

In 1996 an association was formed with the aim to regulate and control the quality of Calçots that were being grown in the counties of Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Tarragonès and Baix Penedès.

The city of Valls is the focus point of the Calçotades, with its yearly festival “Gran Festa de la Calçotada”.

In essence, a Calçotada is a gathering of friends, family, neighbours where the Calçots are cooked, cleaned and dipped in the traditional sauce “Salsa Calçots” where people wear large bibs to protect them from the dripping sauce.  It is a celebration to local produce and friendship.

Nowadays, Calçotades are organised all over Catalonia, either in Restaurants or own back gardens, if the weather allows it.

The Salsa Calçots, the only sauce to be used during a Calçotada, is made from Tomatoes, Almonds and Olive Oil.

In Ferrer, the Salsa Calçots, is one of our star products.  It is made following traditional methods, using high quality fresh ingredients and it represents the values of the Ferrer’s:  family and tradition. It has become the sauce of choice for Calçotades.

The Ferrer’s sauce “Salsa Calçots” is the authentic; made following a traditional recipe passed on by an excellent cook from the region of Alt Camp in Catalonia.

It has become a flagship product for the Ferrer brand and thanks to the vast and established distribution network, the Salsa Calçots Ferrer has been a key contributor to the expansion of Calçotada festivals around Catalonia and internationally!