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Champagne Region at a glance

Gaining the World Heritage status from Unesco in 2015, the Champagne region in France is not one to be missed. Nestled between Paris and Belgium, this marvelous province provides the perfect landscape and temperature for producing wine grapes. Visitors can get lost in the magnificent vineyards, take tours of the many wine cellars, or unwind by the lakes with a glass of delectable champagne. Champagne is arguably the finest thing in the world, and rightfully so. The process of producing a bottle of this exquisite beverage usually requires harvesting 3 different types of grapes, two rounds of fermentation followed by at least 15 months of aging (as required by law). This unmatched procedure is why only bubbly from this region can carry the champagne label...

Anis de Flavigny, the oldest brand in France

 In the heart of the Burgundy region, the Anis de Flavigny artisanal factory has been located for the last 400 years within the same ivy-covered Benedictine abbey. The small, family-run artisanal business, devoted to its little candy, is the oldest brand in France. The Anis de Flavigny is a delicious anise candy confectioned since 1591 in the small village of Flavigny. With only three ingredients (sugar, an anise seed and natural flavor) but a patient work, this candy is a favorite in France for generations. The candy originated during the Roman era, when a traveler brought the aniseed to France. During the 8th century, monks in the Flavigny abbey conceived the idea of covering the seed with sugar. Today, like yesterday, thanks to the knowledge...

5 Ways to use your French Apricot Jam

The story of Les Confitures de Raphaël started when Raphaël returned to his home-region, Saint-Malo. Formerly a worker in an organic food plantation, he fell in love with the fruit and sugar alchemy and started a jam factory in his grandmother’s kitchen. The family business devotes all its attention to the flavor and the freshness of the original fruit. To make this Apricot jam, Raphaël chose the best varieties of sun-gorged apricots grown in the South of France. Then he cooked them à froid (cold) until he had coaxed out all of the amazing flavors and aromas that they had to offer. This unique and artisanal process imparts all the original taste to this Apricot jam. Look below for a new favorite way to enjoy...

The story of 400-year-old French cookies: the Sponge Fingers

Strawberry Charlotte
The Biscuits à la Cuillère, or Sponge Fingers, are one of the oldest traditional French cookies. They are prepared with the same ingredients and method for the past 400 years. The Biscuit à la Cuillère literally translates to « Spoon Cake ». This unusual name dates back to the 17th century, when these cookies were placed on baking trays with spoons. Closer to the 19th century, their original round shape became elongated when the spoon was replaced by a funnel, then by a pastry bag. Although its shape has changed, the French continue to call them “Spoon Cake”! The Sponge Fingers are soft, fluffy and lightly sweetened. They are commonly enjoyed alone or dipped in a coffee at Goûter Time, the French snacking time. These...