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 four (4) generations. The French label of excellence EPV recognized their know-how.

Sweet Treats from Provence

Here are some of the gift packages that Remember Provence ships worldwide.

Advent calendars for kids and adults filled with gourmet specialties

Sachets and gift boxes filled with les treize desserts. The thirteen (13) desserts are a Christmas Eve tradition in  Provence.

Christmas baubles (metallic or paper baubles): to hung in the Christmas tree or to offer as stock fillers.

Sweet gourmet boxes of assorted French confectioneries for your family or business gifts.

All-chocolate Christmas boxes (ballotins) in two (2) sizes for chocolate lovers. The dark bites contain 74% organic cocoa and at least 39% for the milk chocolate bites. These combinations are a perfect mix of nuts and chocolate or fruit and chocolate.

Prestigious Label

Just a word about the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (EPV) label: it was created in 2005 by the French government, specifically by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance, and Industry. Its primary objective is to valorize and preserve French artisanal and industrial heritage by rewarding companies that excel in their exceptional traditional expertise. This label is tangible proof of the government’s commitment to support and promote excellence in companies that contribute to France’s cultural and economic wealth. Here are some additional notes on Fruidoraix’s high-quality products:

The calissons (both traditional and fruity calissons) were awarded ‘Grand Prix de France de la meilleure spécialité.’ They use organic chocolate from a rare and very delicious cocoa bean in each specialty (nougat truffles, olivettes, orangettes and chocolate-coated popcorn). Traditional and organic nougats are made with quality and, if possible, local ingredients in different flavours (vanilla, hazelnut, pistachio, and dark honey). The fruit jellies are made from ancestral recipes with more than 50% fruit and less sugar. They are soft and not sticky, just delicious! Their authentic Marseille’ navettes’ (with traditional orange blossom or caramel) are shaped like shuttles in the memory of the little fishermen boats of Marseille, the leading merchant port on the Mediterranean Sea.

Order Sweet Treats Today!

All these specialties made in Provence are excellent products for all foodies and gourmets! They will ideally end your Christmas lunch or dinner with French tastes that enchant the palates.

What are Calissons d’Aix?

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 of the city’s heritage in 1990. Traditional calisson has three layers: thin host paper on the bottom, the fruit-almond mixture and a light coating of royal icing on top. Typically, a soft-diamond shape calisson is similar in taste to marzipan, although not as sweet.

Cookies from Marseille

Navettes de Marseille are sweet biscuits from the region found at markets and some pastry shops. These cream-coloured cookies are almost hard enough to break your teeth. Navettes are a representation of the boat believed to have transported St Lazarus and the Marys – Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Martha – to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer some 2000 years ago  Or, in contemporary terms, a cross between a canoe and a rowing boat.

Why 13 Desserts?

Following midnight mass, it is time for the 13 desserts. The amount represents the number of participants at the Last Supper: Jesus and his 12 apostles. Although the exact make-up of les treize desserts is not prescriptive, there are a few rules. The assortment of sweets generally falls into four categories: dried fruit and nuts, fresh seasonal fruit, fruit preserved in sugar syrup and sweetened bread. Typically, the 13 desserts are enjoyed after mass. However, the selection remains in reach for the next three days until December 27th.