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Ramblings of a retiree in France
French Fancies: Maison Boissier
When I was a kid, everyone I knew had a small tin of sweets in the glove box of their car. If I’d been brought up in France no doubt they’d have come from Maison Boissier, an authentic French institution that has delighted young and old across all generations.
How it all began
Their story begins in 1827, when Béllissaire Boissier, the founder of this house, set up his first stall on the Boulevard des Capucines so Parisian gourmands could taste his delicious sweets. His first shop was in Place de l’Etoile in Paris, now known as the Place Charles de Gaulle, where twelve of Paris’ major avenues meet at the Arc de Triomphe.
Béllisaire’s ingenius creations were an instant success, quickly favoured by the ladies of Parisian high society. He continued to add to his confectionery repertoire and made the wise decision to open a Bossier on four of the grandest streets in Paris, the Champs-Elysees, Boulevard de Courcelles, Avenue Raymond Poincaré and Avenue Victor Hugo.
Boissier is renowned for three confectionary innovations. Firstly, le marron glacé, a candied coated chestnut flavoured with vanilla. It is said this idea came to him while looking at a train wagon filled with chestnuts to slow the decomposition process! Wrapped in golden paper, these are a great favourite at Christmas time.
Just as famous are the Bonbon boules. Pearl shaped candies made from sugar filled with fruit pulp in a variety of flavors and colours : apricot, apple, cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry. Highly fashionable in the 1840’s, the upper classes loved to enjoy these at the theatre.
The chocolate petals are another of Maison Boissier’s icons. A classic revisited each season where the delightful packaging just adds to each product’s allure.
Carriages would stop outside the Boissier shops to allow Parisians to replenish the stock of their favourite treats. The confectioner made such an impression on the Parisian elite (who clearly all had a sweet tooth) that the likes of Victor Hugo, Emily Zola and Alexandre Dumas were regular clients.
Victor Hugo famously penned these words expressing his love of Boissier’s fine creations.
Grâce à Boissier chères colombes, heureux à vos pieds, nous tombons, car on prend les forts par les bombes, et les faibles par les bonbons. (It is thanks to Boissier my dear doves, that we fall happily at your feet, for the strong we conquer with bombs and the weak we conquer with sweets.)
Maison Boissier’s identity has been forged through a complex balance between nostalgia and modernity, all in the purest tradition of French refinement. Consequently their products are a favourite gift of ours to give to non-French clients (and ourselves)— the pretty vintage-style packaging is a present in itself and, of course, the confections inside are rather magical.
All images courtesy of Maison Boissier
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My mouth is watering! 😀
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😎
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any thing that come in a pretty tin must be worth the cost.
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Chocolats d’excellente tradition. Il existe aussi une boutique avenue de l’Opéra 🙂
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Merci pour l’information
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Exactly
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They remind me of candy that would look pretty on a gingerbread house. I know I have had these candies before, but I can’t for the life on me remember when haha.
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That’s true, they would
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My gran always had a tin of sucking sweets near her. I will have to go and visit Maison Boissier if we ever get back to Paris 🙂
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You must
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Devine!
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Indeed
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My son-in-law Ian would like a box of these
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😎 I think most people would
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I love the tins!
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They’re gorgeous aren’t they
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They are!
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So beautiful boxes and certainly sweets would be amazing as well. I love this history. Thanks for sharing .
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My pleasure Ruqia
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😄😁
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