Sweets and confectionery

Provencal confectionery

In Provence, we’re really serious about sweets. With such a diversified terroir, our artisans have everything they need to create little marvels. In Carpentras, everyone just loves their berlingots. Since 1946, the Confiserie du Mont Ventoux has been manufacturing these delicious sweets which are renowned for being the oldest sweets in France by hand. Open the door of the confectionery and discover the savoir-faire recognised by the Entreprise du Patrimoine-Vivant label. And while you’re still in the Vaucluse, what about trying the Papaline d’Avignon? Bite into this little thistle made up of two fine coats of chocolate to find its melting heart with oregano liqueur from the Comtat. Did you know that this local delicacy got its name from the Popes of Avignon? If you’re passing through Aix-en-Provence, take a sweet break to try the famous calissons du Roy René. Listed in the Living Heritage of the town, the recipe for calissons hasn’t changed since they were created: a subtle blend of almonds, candied melon from Apt and icing – they’ll be gone in a trice. A few kilometres away you can take a leap back in time with one of the oldest confectioneries which dates back to the Middle Ages. In Allauch, at Le Moulin Bleu, you’ll discover the suce-miel: sweet and tasty, these lollipop bars will give your taste buds a whirl with their delicate honey flavour. End this gourmet tour of Provence in Collobrières, a peaceful village nestled in the Massif des Maures. The true capital of the chestnut, it’s the ideal place for a free tour of the Musée du Marron Glacé. One thing’s for sure, you won’t leave the Confiserie Azuréenne empty-handed: crème de marrons, marrons glacés, chestnut paste … we’ve tried all of them and they’re all scrumptious!

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Une publication partagée par Marrons Glacés (@confiserie_azureenne)

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Une publication partagée par La Confiserie Alpine (@la_confiserie_alpine)

Confectioneries in the Alps

Let’s head for the Hautes-Alpes, in the remarkable Ecrins National Park. La Confiserie Alpine put down its roots in the vallée du Champsaur in 2009. Jams, honey, and other sweets are made in this little Alpine paradise by hand and in a friendly atmosphere. Christophe Zana, a beekeeper, and confectioner has been the mastermind behind this little family enterprise that’s here to stay. Christophe, who has been awarded medals for 4 consecutive years for his mountain honey and just for the record, Christophe pampers his hives by singing songs by Georges Brassens! As you go down towards Gap and Embrun, stop  off in one of the Maison Eyriey’s 3 sœurs shops. They are proud to perpetuate the family know-how dating back to the 1900s and they are currently offering a new range of chocolates: filled chocolates, ballotins of chocolates, candied fruit, and wrapped sweets … And don’t miss the grand cru chocolate delicacies which are great for all occasions. The carefully selected cocoa beans offer a wide palette of attractive flavours. In Saint-Firmin, Thierry Siat, who is a compagnon chocolatier, will have your mouth watering. Give in to the pleasure of chocolate and taste the not-to-be-missed delicacies: it’ll be difficult to choose between the crunchy bûchette au praliné or the “craquine” bar! And don’t forget to take a jar of mountain honey from the boutique next to the honey house back with you.

The confectioneries of the Côte d’Azur

Even if the Côte d’Azur is renowned for its dreamy seaside landscapes, it has a lot of places where confectionery reigns supreme. For your first stop, go to Maison Auer in Nice where the keys to this chocolate confectioner have been handed down from one generation to the next since 1820. Opposite L’Opéra de Nice, you’ll find the candied fruit and chocolates which have made them famous in their Florentine-style shop. When you’ve been around Le Vieux-Nice, your next stop will be the harbour wharf where you can just melt away with the sweet delicacies in Confiserie Florian. You can have a free guided tour: see how citrus fruit becomes jam, orangettes and other delicacies! The Confiserie specializes in flowers and uses violets, Tango roses and even jasmine to make delicious tangy sweets. And their second shop is worth a visit too: in an exceptional site between the torrent of the Gorges du Loup and the Grasse backcountry, time stands still and plunges you into a period decor dating back to the  17th and 18th centuries. Take the Corniche d’Or to Saint-Raphaël and open the doors of Le Provençal, the temple of foodies. Here, sugar is transformed into pure marvels: nougats de Provence, candied citrus fruit, marshmallows and the famous chocolate-coated bears! But don’t be surprised if you see Kouglof there, the happy owners are from Alsace and this is their little joke. Finish your foodie trip nicely with l’Amie Ailée in Roquebrune-sur-Argens. Beekeepers from father to daughter since 1925, the Perrin family has lots of honey delicacies made with the honey they harvest from the Rucher des Pérignons. Their 16 million bees forage the flowers of Les Maures to bring you the best honey.

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Une publication partagée par ConfiserieFlorian (@confiserieflorianofficiel)