Nemours and the poppy have a long-standing love affair. This flower, easily recognized by its bright red color, was the subject of numerous paintings, poems and songs in this Seine-et-Marne commune in past centuries. But it's for a much more gourmet reason that the Ile-de-France poppy is famous today, since it's used to make delicious little poppy sweets soberly named Coquelicots de Nemours.
A traditional confectionery product typical of the Ile-de-France region, it's a genuine local specialty with a floral taste and many medicinal properties. The Nemours poppy is one of the few French sweets to be both a local product and a time-honored remedy: imagine a translucent red candy, extracted from the wild petals of a hand-picked poppy... that's the magic of Nemours.
Without further ado, discover thehistory of the Nemours Poppy, intrinsically linked to that of the Nemours confectioner who had the excellent idea of using this beautiful red flower in his candy recipe.
It was in 1870, in a small store in Nemours, Seine-et-Marne (77), that François-Étienne Desserey, an inspired confectioner, decided to transform poppy petals - previously used only as medicinal herbal tea - into sweet cough drops, as the poppy flower was renowned for its soothing, antiseptic and calming virtues. A subtle compromise between sweet pleasure and medicinal heritage.
A great success in the 19ᵉ century, poppy sweets gradually fell into oblivion in the 1930s - until 1996, when they were revived by the Nemours-based house Des Lis Chocolat, who brought this local tradition back to life. The flavor of Coquelicot de Nemours is delicate, half-fruity, half-floral, with a slight sweet acidity, distinct from violet or lavender.
From the classic pastille to lollipops, lemonades, syrups, jams, liqueurs, chocolates and even vinegars, the poppy has inspired numerous culinary creations. Some chocolatiers even incorporate poppy flavor into dark chocolate palets marked with a flower.
A product of a unique limestone terroir, produced in a short circuit, the Coquelicot de Nemours is the perfect embodiment of local know-how and an authentically floral taste. More than a candy, it's a little madeleine straight from the fields of Seine-et-Marne, a pink-red treasure bursting with history, folklore and sweetness!
The Paris region through its terroir : Discover the culinary specialties of Île-de-France
You think you know the Paris region like the back of your hand, but how well do you know its terroir? Don't delay in discovering the culinary specialties of Île-de-France! [Read more]
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The Paris region through its terroir : Discover the culinary specialties of Île-de-France
