Aimed at elevating the souvenir experience
Barcelona is launching a new line of high-quality, edible souvenirs inspired by the works of Antoni Gaudí, aiming to replace low-grade trinkets with a gourmet cultural experience. The initiative comes from Makeat, a Barcelona-based product innovation studio, and Lluc Crusellas, named the world’s best chocolatier in 2022, through their new brand Gaudeat. The project was driven by a shared belief that Barcelona deserves better souvenirs than the mass-produced items commonly sold to tourists. As reported by El Periódico, the team behind Makeat, Adrià Colominas, Juan Umbert and Víctor Echevarría, sought to create a 'quality edible memory' that connects taste with cultural heritage.
Design and cultural authenticity
Each box contains nine artisan chocolates, individually crafted to resemble iconic elements from Gaudí’s architecture, including the dragon from Park Güell, the star of the Sagrada Família and the cross from Casa Batlló. The designs were developed using 3D-printed prototypes to ensure precise moulds, avoiding any reproductions restricted by copyright or royalty issues. The project received approval and collaboration from the Consell Gaudí, the official body overseeing the architect’s legacy, which endorsed Gaudeat as a product that complements Gaudí’s excellence and promotes cultural appreciation.
Calia ser fidel i acurat perquè Barcelona és una ciutat de disseny i cultura, que mereix aquesta qualitat
, Víctor Echevarría, Makeat co-founder
Technology and sustainability
Each chocolate comes with a QR code that directs buyers to information about the original monument, enhancing the souvenir with an educational, interactive layer. The brand also commits 1% of its profits to the restoration of Gaudí’s works. The chocolates are already on sale at Terminal 1 of El Prat Airport, with future availability planned for the Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, La Roca Village, El Corte Inglés, and cruise terminals. Prices start at approximately €29 per box, with future plans to expand into gourmet shops and other heritage sites. The team also plans to release a Gaudí-inspired nougat and seasonal items tied to local festivals such as Easter monas. International rollout to the United States and Japan is scheduled for 2028, capitalising on heightened cultural interest following the expected beatification of Gaudí and the year of Architecture in Barcelona.
Reported by elperiodico.cat, Diari de Girona, El Periódico (CA).
