World's best master chocolatier opens new shop and workshop in central Catalonia

When Lluc Crusellas was awarded the title of World's Best Master Chocolatier in 2022, he was the youngest pastry chef to ever achieve this title at just 26 years old.

Now, the Catalan dessert maker is taking a step forward in his career with the opening of a new shop and workshop in Vic where he will make his own chocolate.

The Eukarya project, with investment of €1 million in its space of more than 700 m2, has eight workers producing a wide range of products which all have chocolate as its star ingredient. 

In an interview with the Catalan News Agency, Crusellas explains that Eukarya was born from the "excitement" after winning the 'World Chocolate Masters' last year: "We had the duty to bring people a quality and affordable product."

The name 'Eukarya' comes from eukaryotic cells, the ones that make up the cocoa bean.

Crusellas was clear that any new establishment he would set up had to be in his native city of Vic, central Catalonia. Yet, his ambitions are not limited to that, as he wants the project "to go further," with sights set on international expansion by 2025.

At the moment, the products made by the world's best master chocolatier can be found in the new store in Vic, but also in the Carme pastry shop in the city where Crusellas got his pastisserie education. In addition, some products can be found at the Gurbi Degustació pastry shop in Gurb.

Those living in Barcelona will get a chance to taste some of the planet's finest treats with a pop up store coming to the Catalan capital for the Christmas holidays. At the same time, Eukarya has reached an agreement with Ametller Origens so that it can market its products during Christmas.

Crusellas says he wants customers to have an "experience" when purchasing Eukarya products. "I looked for the best possible flavor in each one, applying the best technique and, in addition, that the wrapping and packaging were also up to par," he explains.

The chocolatier says that all the cocoa they use to make the products comes from Peru and Papua New Guinea, as they are his preferred origins for the ingredient. 

Crusellas says they have looked for "clear and concise flavors." He also says they have been looking for products "that are easy to make and produce."

On offer in Eukarya are chocolate bars, chocolates, chocolate balls, nougats, creams, pannetones, and more. "We tried to make the experience very extensive and all the products have chocolate as the main ingredient," he explains.