Sweet Treats Calissons from Provence
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottLocal Food ProducersTaste

Order Sweet Treats from Provence for the Holidays

For the end-of-year celebrations, what is better than giving or receiving a selection of sweet treats? Remember Provence offers different and exclusive compositions of Provençal and artisanal chocolates and sweets. Fruidoraix, a family-run company, has produced these confectioneries for over 140 years. The fabrication expertise has been passed along through …

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Calisson d'Aix Recipe
Cakes & CookiesCook'n with ClassDessertProvencal RecipesTaste

Recipe for Calisson d’Aix a Traditional Sweet

Culinary references to a version of calissons lead to medieval Italy but these sweets are commonly associated with Aix-en-Provence – Calisson d’Aix. This came after 16th-century farmers planted the first almond crops in the region. These delicious calissons have been consistently made in the same way for many generations. Traditional …

READ MORE  Recipe for Calisson d’Aix a Traditional Sweet
Calissons d'Aix Recipe
Cakes & CookiesDavid Scott AllenDessertProvencal RecipesTaste

Calissons d’Aix a Recipe for Sweet Perfection

While Calissons d’Aix are a Provencal holiday treat —they are one of the thirteen traditional desserts served at Epiphany — I tried my first on a beautiful summer’s day in Aix-en-Provence. Candy is certainly not the only reason to visit Provence, but for this sweet treat, Aix marks the spot.

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Roy René Factory Museum Calissons
Carolyne Kauser-AbbottLocal Food ProducersTaste

Roy René the Almond King of Calissons d’Aix

Nothing Without Almonds Le Roy René factory needs some 200 metric tons of almonds annually for the production of calissons d’Aix and nougats. As almonds are one of the key ingredients in these typically Provencal sweets, a reliable supply chain is critical to the operation. In 2016, 300 almond trees, …

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Candied fruits at Lilimand Confiseur at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Caroline LongstaffeLocal Food ProducersTaste

Sweet Treats the Candied Fruit Makers in Provence

What is Candied Fruit? Don’t ask your nutritionist’s permission when it comes to candied fruit. The answer is obviously yes. The process of converting fresh fruit to a crystallized version takes lots of time and even more sugar syrup. Sometimes referred to as fruit glacé in France. The Arabs brought …

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Calisson d'Aix Drawing Margo Lestz
Margo LestzTaste

The Calisson of Provence: A Sweet Story

The calisson is a small, distinctive, almond-shaped candy which first appeared in Aix-en-Provence in the fifteenth century, during the reign of Good King René. The following legend is often associated with its creation… A King, a Queen, and a Candy Jeanne de Laval wasn’t pleased when she found out that …

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Calisson d'Aix Almond Candy
Cakes & CookiesCarolyne Kauser-AbbottDessertProvencal RecipesTaste

Recipe for Calisson d’Aix a Sweet Almond Candy with a Long History

Calisson d’Aix is a specialty candy from Aix en Provence made with almonds, melon and citrus paste. The actual origin of the recipe is most likely from Italy. The following recipe does not follow the same exacting industry standards, but is a fun “Sunday project” with a sweet result.

READ MORE  Recipe for Calisson d’Aix a Sweet Almond Candy with a Long History
Calisson d'Aix
Local Food ProducersTaste

Calisson d’Aix the Sweet Almond Candy of Provence

Candy might not be the reason you decide to visit Aix-en-Provence, but don’t leave town without sampling the famous Calisson d’Aix. These sweets, made with ground, local almonds (sweet and bitter) and a fruit paste blend of melon confit (preserved in sugar) and orange peel, were officially recognized as part …

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Mulled Wine and Escargot Strasbourg Christmas Market @PJAdams10
Markets in Provence and Cote d'AzurTaste

Strasbourg Christmas Markets and Provencal Traditions

Recently, author and Perfectly Provence contributor PJ Adams visited the Strasbourg Christmas Market. PJ wrote this article following her trip to France where she compares the seasonal holiday traditions between Alsace and Provence. Keep reading for PJ’s tasty Christmas post on sauerkraut, gingerbread, calissons and nougat. Strasbourg France, the “Capital …

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