The village in Barcelona where you can try the best coca de Sant Joan (Sant Joan coca)

It’s not long now until Midsummer’s Eve, that magical tradition that puts the finishing touch to the longest day of the year. In Catalonia, that means that the shop windows of the bakeries are starting to fill up with all shapes and sizes of Coca de Sant Joan. This traditional local sweet is a classic on the night of 23 June, and according to last year’s “La mejor Coca de Sant Joan” competition, in which 250 recipes took part, nowhere is it prepared as well as at Fleca Rovira. This small establishment located in Santa Angès de Malanyanes won the title of the Best Coca of Sant Joan 2023, convincing the jury with the sponginess of the spongy texture and the quality of the local ingredients used.

Have you ever tried one of these “cocas”? Well, it is made with flour, eggs and butter, like any other sponge cake, although the secret lies in the marzipan or cream confit. It is also usually decorated with ingredients such as pine nuts, cracklings or candied fruit. The origins of the Coca de Sant Joan go back to the egg roll that used to be eaten on this holiday as sun worship, so if you eat a piece (or several), you can always say that it’s your way of honouring tradition. Just don’t forget to jump over the bonfire!