World's longest chocolate turrón unveiled

Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz province), close to the Portuguese border, has been nominated as 2020 Culinary Capital of its region, and creating a massive bar of traditional festive confectionery is the first of many planned food-based activities for the year ahead.

Master chocolatier Justo Almendrote and baker Juan Antonio Parejo are expecting to beat the world record with their turrón in terms of length – it measures 42 metres (137'9”) and is enough to provide a typical 200-gram bar to 1,000 people.

This is the fifth giant turrón the pair have made, although until now, their record was 40 metres (131'3”).

Although it took months of planning, the turrón was put together in a morning – and it is decorated with the Villanueva de la Serena coat of arms.

Using 100 litres of cream and 30 kilos of crunchy additives – biscuit and hazelnuts – plus oranges and over 200 kilos of dark chocolate at 65% cocoa, all lactose-free and with various parts suitable for those with nut and gluten allergies, the turrón will be given away in chunks to whoever wants a piece.

To get a free bar from the longest turrón in the world, the 'price' is providing a kilo of non-perishable food for the confectionery creators to give to the local food bank.

The photograph shows the result of their handiwork, and is taken by Villanueva de la Serena town council.