Located at number 11 on the main street of Getxo, Aberasturi ice cream shop has reached its first century this year, becoming a symbol of the town. A hundred years ago, Benito Martín Aberasturi's grandfather arrived from Bilbao to learn the pastry trade and later, in 1926, settled in the municipality of Las Arenas with his wife, María. Initially, he focused on pastries, but in the summer, driven by tourism, he began selling ice cream as the coast increasingly consolidated as a summer destination.

Currently, Esther Bilbao, Benito Martín Aberasturi's wife, manages the family workshop. She started her career in the business at 17 as a delivery person and now, over four decades later, she is at the helm of the establishment. Today, the company also has points of sale in Algorta, Las Arenas, and Plentzia.

The sector's evolution has completely transformed the offering. From just half a dozen flavors in the past, they now offer nearly fifty different options, including sugar-free, lactose-free, and vegan choices. However, the Aberasturi family maintains the original recipe. "We continue making the traditional ones, like grandfather Aberasturi's recipe," she assures.

In the workshop, the process still retains a significant artisanal component. Dairy mixtures pass through the pasteurizer, rest in maturation tanks, and finally reach the ice cream maker. Fruit varieties use a different method, utilizing the natural juice itself to enhance the final flavor. Despite having modern machinery, "handmade things still have a future," argues Bilbao.

Yesterday, to celebrate the centenary, they gathered with their customers. "In our home, we have been the sweet refuge for generations in Las Arenas and Getxo for over a century." Long queues formed again in front of the counter, and free ice creams were distributed to "turn a flavor into collective memory".