Gelato Festival World Masters, the premier competition in its category in partnership with Carpigiani and Sigep - Italian Exhibition Group, continues its journey around the world in search of the best gelato. The second Mexican stop took place on March 11 in Mexico City, where 12 Mexican gelato artisans competed in the sweetest contest of the year, organized by EPC Mexico, Carpigiani’s distributor.

The three winners were:

First place

Irvin Jiménez from Cuina Gelato Shop in Mexico City with the flavor “Bocado de Flores” 

Description: A low-sugar natural yogurt gelato with passion fruit and jasmine green tea.

Second place

Juan Antonio Coyoli Maciel from Super Creamy Gelato Shop in Mexico City with the flavor “Lisi” 

Description: Pumpkin candy gelato with a coffee, cinnamon, butter, and rum variegato, sprinkled with pumpkin seeds.

Third place

María De Los Ángeles Morales from Gelato Shop in Xalapa with the flavor “Besos de fresa”

Description: Oven-roasted strawberry gelato with cardamom and honey, featuring a strawberry, cardamom, honey, and Grand Marnier jelly.

These selected gelato artisans will advance to the North American Semifinal of the Gelato Festival World Masters, scheduled for 2025 in the United States. The evaluation was based on four key parameters: flavor, texture, creativity, and presentation, highlighting ingredient selection, craftsmanship, and the visual impact of the gelato (see full participant list below).

The jury was composed of:

• Cristian Melendez Crespo – Chef at Par De France 
• Sandra Corona P. – R&D at Grupo Chedrahui 
• Giuliana Arcila Cardona – CEO of GAC

With the 2022-2025 edition, the Gelato Festival World Masters celebrates its sixteenth year, having debuted in Florence in 2010, inspired by the first-ever gelato recipe, created by the multifaceted architect Bernardo Buontalenti in 1559. Since then, the event has expanded beyond Italy to Europe and, since 2017, to the United States and the rest of the world, with over 3,500 gelato artisans participating in the 2018-2021 edition.

GELATO FESTIVAL WORLD MASTERS - CHALLENGE

March 11, 2025 

Mexico City, Mexico

Host: EPC Mexico

List of participants

WINNERS

First place: Irvin Jiménez from Cuina Gelato Shop in Mexico City with the flavor “Bocado de Flores”

Second place: Juan Antonio Coyoli Maciel from Super Creamy Gelato Shop in Mexico City with the flavor “Lisi”

Third place: María De Los Ángeles Morales from Gelato Shop in Xalapa with the flavor “Besos de fresa”

Other participants:

• Francisco Javier Lechuga from Il Favorito Gelato Shop in Mexico City with the flavor “Mia y Mío” 
• Sebastián Gustavi Demarchi from Due Gelati in Mexico City with the flavor “Rosso Mandorlato” 
• Ileana Carrasco from Frozzeto in Mexico City with the flavor “Crema de nogada” 
• Nahomi Barrios Arellano from Sempre Gelato in Mexico City with the flavor “Peach Kingdom” 
• Mauricio Tomás Gallegos Luna from Gelaxia Helados in Mexico City with the flavor “Stella” 
• Armando Cruz Ramírez from Flor Del Valle Gelato Shop in Hidalgo with the flavor “La Flor del Maguey del Valle” 
• Juan Carlos Franco Suaste from Bella Nonna Gelato Shop in Morelos with the flavor “Reserva Verde” 
• María Andrea Morteo Stocco from Cuore Italiano in Puebla with the flavor “Cuore Mediterraneo” 
• Eduardo Carrera Lagunas from Heladería y Paletería Lalo in Poza Rica with the flavor “Palanqueta”