What is Toledo Famous For? Marzipan!

Toledo is famous for three things: Swords, damascene and MARZIPAN! And seeing as I’m totally possessed by a sweet tooth,  I’d have to start with the latter, no question.

The Convent of St Clement supposedly came up with this delectable stuff in the 16th century, when there was a famine on. Almond trees grow like weed in and around Toledo, so the nuns ground up the almonds, mixed them with sugar, and hey presto – marzipan.

It is sold in dozens of shops across town.

 

Some of the more creative establishments like to mold theirs into fancy fairy tale castles:

…and dragons!

Toledo is home to innumerable convents, and each of them seems to make its own marzipan as well as other types of sweets. The convents usually have a shop attached where they sell their delicacies to the public. Signs like this are plastered all over town:
All looks harmless enough, doesn’t it. But don’t be deceived. In a cunning feat of investigative journalism, I have uncovered the shocking truth of what goes on behind the scenes: A deplorable local racket of nun slavery!
Valiantly risking my own life, I managed to sneak into one of those sweetshops sweatshops, where I took these heartbreaking photographs:

Oh, how they toil, the little nuns!

See the white one in the back? She’s bad to the core, goading her underlings, making them knead till their pudgy little knuckles bleed

Unfortunately, my cover was blown when I decided to take some samples. Purely for evidence, you understand. They kicked me out.

Actually, I’ve decided that I don’t give a rat’s arse about how much they suffer. As long as they keep coming up with the goods.

Toledo’s famed marzipan cake. It is so sweet it makes all your teeth dissolve instantly…total bliss!!!

The Nuns’ Café