Fig and Rum Ice Cream Wins Top Prize at Argentina's Artisanal Competition

A unique fig and rum ice cream flavor, named "Mantecado del Egeo," has been crowned the best in Argentina. Verónica Díaz and Matías Jiménez, hailing from Quilmes and Moreno respectively, secured the top spot at the 8th Argentine Artisanal Ice Cream Cup. Their creation impressed a panel of expert judges, who deliberated extensively before awarding the championship title.

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We are very excited, we feel we learned a lot in this competition. We have been working together for a year, and we thought, why not participate and show what we know, and try to win the prize?

The victory brought more than just accolades. Díaz and Jiménez received one million pesos and the opportunity to join the Argentine team for the Latin American Ice Cream Championship in Buenos Aires in 2027 and the World Ice Cream Championship in Rimini, Italy, next January. This win marks a significant achievement for the pair, who have been working together as ice cream consultants for the past year.

Interestingly, the champions do not currently operate their own ice cream parlor. "We are very excited, we feel we learned a lot in this competition," said Díaz. "We have been working together for a year, and we thought, why not participate and show what we know, and try to win the prize?" Jiménez elaborated on the winning flavor, noting the judges praised its texture and balanced taste. "Our flavor has cocoa, nuts, earthy notes. We used a lot of pastry techniques, and it turned out well," he added, explaining the name was inspired by the sea near the Turkish fig-producing region used in the recipe.

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Everything that didn't happen in our previous training happened here, in the booth, during the competition. But we were able to overcome the difficulties. It was chaotic, but beautiful, pure gain. In the moment, it's all or nothing, you bring out your best. They told us we won because the flavors were well-achieved, and the texture was good. That we combined the acidity well, the fruity counterpoint. Our flavor has cocoa, nuts, earthy notes. We used a lot of pastry techniques, and it turned out well.

The competition featured eight duos showcasing technique, creativity, and innovation in artisanal ice cream. Jorge Reniero and Angelina Astegiano took second place with their yogurt and vanilla flavor, earning $600,000 pesos. The event highlighted the vibrant and evolving artisanal ice cream scene in Argentina.

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The name of the flavor is inspired by the sea surrounding the producing area of the Turkish fig used in the recipe.