Master chocolatier Paco Torreblanca defends his use of marijuana in the elaboration of some of his chocolate desserts.

Spain’s most famous chocolatier, Paco Torreblanca (who with Ferran Adriá and Arzak designed the wedding banquet served to guests at the last royal wedding), presented his latest innovation at the ‘Best of Gastronomy’ conference being held in San Sebastian this week.

He raised a few eyebrows with his presentation in which he proposed using marijuana in baking due to its aromatic and aesthetic qualities. In fact, he used some marijuana leaves in a chocolate dessert which he presented to the conference yesterday.

According to Torreblanca marijuana leaves give off an interesting bouquet of resin and herbs following a process of drying out and are only used for decoration. Torreblanca pointed out that his only aim with working with this product is to investigate and innovate and it was not meant as a provocation.

Torreblanca’s chocolate empire is in the province of Alicante, in Petrer, and his presentation yesterday formed part of the delegation of chefs representing the province of Alicante. Other products available for visitors from Alicante were king prawns from Denia, two types of rice dishes prepared by two of the best restaurants in Alicante.

There was also a spirit tasting session followed by icecream tasting presented by the Asociación Empresarial Nacional de Artesanos y Comerciantes de Helados, which surprised some people with unusual flavours such as tomato with garlic and oil icecream.