Hungary’s Salon Candy of the Year is here – taste it in this charming small town

The caramelised white chocolate-covered, Lotus biscuit caramel salon candy made by the Szent Korona confectionery in Soltvadkert has won this year’s Salon Candy of the Year competition.

Chosen from 165 contenders

Coming in second was the crunchy wafer and salted caramel salon candy from Keszthelyi Sütibolt, while third place went to DJC Stílusgyakorlat from the Gyula Artisan Confectionery. This sweet was based on the winner of this year’s Cake of Hungary contest, created by the victors of the cake competition, organisers told the Hungarian News Agency.

This year’s winners were selected from 165 treats submitted by 24 producers, judged by experts including Zoltán Gácsi, head of the Chocolate Academy; Balázs Erdélyi, professional president of the Hungarian Confectionery Guild; Zsolt Abrudán, chef of the New York Café; master chef and confectioner Lajos Mihály; master confectioners Emese Szentandrás-Szabó and Éva Pásztor, who is also an instructor.

A new “allergen-free” category debuted this year, inviting sugar-, gluten-, and milk protein-free salon candies designed for sensitive consumers to compete.

In the professional category, the winner was the Promenád Café from Balatongyörök with their “Orange Essence” — an orangey treat with candied orange jelly, dark chocolate and orange cream. Second place went to the smoky whiskey hazelnut confection from Orosházi Hóvirág Confectionery, and third was the dark chocolate and sour cherry treat from Hisztéria Confectionery.