September brings new almonds, fresh from the harvest. And in Estepa, production is already under way, just like every other year. The recipe is the same as always: lard, cinnamon, flour, sugar... to make the traditional dough which then goes to the ovens.
The national market consumes 90% of this production, where Estepa is still the leader in the sector. The season kicks off with a forecast of 5% growth - that is, some 22 million kilos of mantecados, polvorones and other Christmas sweets. Another tradition is that women fill 85% of these seasonal jobs over the next four months. There are about 4,500 workers in the local industry, which prides itself on being the benchmark for quality, without losing its artisanal character. The Regulatory Council certifies 19 companies as authentic producers from Estepa. Now they say the next challenge is to break into new markets and increase their exports... And their achievement: maintaining excellence over 150 years of tradition.