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World Record: Longest Turrón in Tenerife for Christmas Charity

Official: The World’s Longest Turrón Was Just Made on Tenerife

It’s official – Puerto de Santiago, a small coastal village in the municipality of Santiago del Teide in southern Tenerife, is now home to a genuine Guinness World Record. On Sunday, a team of local pastry chefs, volunteers, and officials came together to create the longest turrón ever made, and a Guinness World Records representative was on hand to measure every centimeter of it.

The final certified length? 1,151.15 meters – that’s over a kilometer of the beloved Spanish Christmas nougat. To put that into perspective: laid out in a straight line, you’d need a 15-minute walk to get from one end to the other. It’s roughly the equivalent of eleven football pitches placed end to end.

The turrón was arranged in a zigzag pattern rather than a straight line due to space constraints, but the measurement was precise – the official even flagged spots where the dessert had broken and required repairs before the final reading could be confirmed.

Beating Italy’s Record Was the Goal from Day One

The organizers had a clear target in mind from the very beginning: surpass the previous record, which was set in Italy and stood at 1,004 meters. With that benchmark in mind, the municipality of Santiago del Teide threw itself into the challenge, leaving nothing to chance.

But beyond the tourism headlines, the project had a much warmer purpose at its core. The primary motivation was charitable – ensuring that families in difficult circumstances across Tenerife would have a piece of turrón on their tables during the Christmas season. Because really, what’s the holidays without a little sweetness?

Christmas Spirit Under the December Sun

If you’ve ever spent Christmas in the Canary Islands, you’ll know the strange but wonderful experience of celebrating the festive season in sunshine and warm temperatures. Sunday was no different – Puerto de Santiago was bathed in brilliant light more typical of a summer afternoon than the days before Christmas Eve.

That didn’t stop the locals from bringing full festive energy to the event. Mayor Emilio Navarro captured the spirit of the day well:

“The social dimension of this project was always what mattered most to us. We want no household on Tenerife to go without a taste of what is probably the most iconic Christmas treat.”

Once the measurements were complete and the record confirmed, turrón was handed out freely among the many residents and tourists who had gathered to watch. A substantial portion of the giant dessert was also packaged up and distributed to NGOs and community organizations that had partnered in its creation.

Eight Hours, Over a Ton of Ingredients

Creating more than a kilometer of turrón doesn’t happen overnight – or even in a single afternoon. Work began at 5:00 AM and wrapped up well after 1:00 PM, meaning the team clocked a solid eight hours of continuous effort.

The operation was coordinated by chef Pablo Pastor, president of the Association of Chefs and Pastry Makers of the Canary Islands (Acyre). He had all the numbers committed to memory:

  • 1,280 kg of gofio (a traditional Canarian roasted grain flour)
  • 300 kg of honey
  • 250 kg of sugar
  • 150 kg of chocolate
  • 125 kg of almonds
  • 150 kg of bananas

Once the ingredients were combined, the chefs and volunteers got to work beating and shaping the mixture into what is now officially the world’s longest turrón. One special section, prepared in collaboration with Acyre Madrid, featured a different flavor combination – pistachio and strawberry.

Local Pride, Global Reach

Mayor Navarro made no secret of the promotional value this achievement carries:

“This is a fantastic boost for Santiago del Teide and for the whole island – the news will travel around the world.”

What makes the record especially meaningful to locals is that the turrón was made almost entirely from Canarian ingredients. That connection to local produce, local traditions, and local people is what gives the achievement its real weight.

Navarro also highlighted the remarkable range of organizations that came together to make it happen – from healthcare professionals to members of the Chamber of Architects. In total, around 150 people were officially registered as direct participants, a requirement driven by food hygiene regulations.

What Happens After a World Record?

The celebrations didn’t end when the measuring tape was put away. After guests and spectators had their chance to sample the record-breaking nougat, distribution began in earnest – to local community centers, senior citizen groups, and neighboring municipalities.

Chef Pastor expressed his gratitude to the municipal government, to the suppliers who had supported the project during weeks of preparation, and to the various sponsors who made it all possible.

He also took a moment to reflect on the broader significance of events like this one:

“I take my role as the municipality’s gastronomic advisor very seriously. Projects like this one – combining charity with promotion – help establish Santiago del Teide as an internationally recognized culinary destination. We’ll keep working to do things well and earn the place this municipality deserves.”

Longest Turrón in Tenerife

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