Skip the eiffel tower shirts and come home with some delicious, unique souvenirs instead.
Picture this – it’s your last day in Paris. You’ve seen all of the major monuments, the stunning architecture, and the pretty parks. You’ve drank the wine, you’ve had some laughs, you’ve maybe even done a few tours with us! You’ve done some shopping for yourself, too…
But, wait! You still haven’t managed to get your family and friends any Paris souvenirs. What to do?!
There’s nothing like food to pleasantly surprise your friends with. Paris is the culinary capital of the world, after all. For those with a sweet tooth, you really can’t go wrong in Paris.
Here are some great and unique ideas for sweet treats to bring back home from Paris…
.
Confiture de Lait
Image: academiedugout.fr
Think of this as France’s answer to dulce de leche: confiture de Lait is a creamy, decadent, caramely dessert sauce/spread. Have you ever had caramel covered apples? The taste is very similar to that of Confiture de Lait! It will make you melt.
This spread can be used in so many ways. Molten chocolate caramel cake? Yes. Crepe filling? Absolutely. Apple dipping sauce? Of course.
Straight from the spoon? YES, EVEN THAT!
We suggest you take a trip to La Grande Epicerie de Paris to find this sweet souvenir. La Grande Epicerie is a specialized food shop in the Saint-Germain neighborhood. It’s known for its unique and high end merchandise. La Grande Epicerie an extension of the historic department store, Le Bon Marché, which is also a sight to be seen in itself. Who knows, you may be able to find some other extraordinary souvenirs here while you’re at it!
La Grande Epicerie de Paris
38 Rue de Sèvres
75007 Paris
.
Fruit jams
Image: soyonsfutiles.com
The jams at La Chambre aux Confitures are 100% made in France from in-season fruits. Every jar is made in the Picardie region of France, and the workshop turns out flavors like raspberry & passionfruit, apricot lavender, strawberry rose, fig & cognac… The French have definitely lent their gastronomic touch to these fruit combinations.
You’re really not going to see flavors like this back home. Many of the fruit combinations are inspired by French regional specialties (like the calisson and fruit flavored jam, or the Breton cider flavored one).
The jams are original, unique, and delicious. They have no preservatives, no artificial flavoring, or chemical coloring. Believe me, if you walk into this shop, you’ll have some great souvenirs for friends and family… and you probably won’t be able to resist getting a couple things for yourself, as well.
La Chambre Aux Confitures
There are a handful of shop addresses in Paris, so check the site above to see which is most convenient for you. Our favorite is:
9 rue des Martyrs
75009 Paris
.
Macarons
Yep, you had a feeling macarons were going to make this list, didn’t you?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of this famous French treat. Over the past 5 years or so, macarons have become more popular internationally. They really have become the trend of the dessert world!
The concept of the macaron is fairly simple: two ‘cookie’ like shells sandwich a flavored pastry cream filling. The crunchy and creamy combination? AMAZING!
These dainty tidbits originally came in only your standard flavors: chocolate, vanilla, coffee, strawberry, and sometimes pistachio.
But chefs across France, and particularly in Paris, have taken to experimenting with many new flavors and colors. Now it is pretty normal to walk into a patisserie and see macarons in 10-15 colors and flavors; from lemon yellow to sky blue to olive oil green (trust us on this one – YUM).
One thing to remember for these souvenirs: macarons should be kept refrigerated. Pull them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before eating them (they actually are better this way, believe me). Generally pastry shops will tell you macarons are only good within 5 days of purchase… but in reality I’ve eaten macarons 10 days later and they’re still delicious but after about a week you may lose some of the pleasant crackliness of the meringue cookie. If you’re purchasing macarons as souvenirs, you’ll want to do this at the tail end of your trip.
Ladurée is the most famous place in Paris to buy macarons. So famous that it is now a global brand. So yes, there is a slight chance you are able to get these in your home country.
Our favorite Paris location is on the Avenue des Champs Elysées because it has an unbelievably gorgeous tea-room you can relax in. Of course you can purchase macarons at that location, as well.
Ladurée
There are a handful of shop addresses in Paris, so check the site above to see which is most convenient for you. Our favorite is:
75 Avenue des Champs-Elysées
75008 Paris
.
Honey
If you don’t immediately think of honey when thinking of France or Paris, don’t worry. We were just as shocked as you when we discovered the rich history the French share with this treat.
France generates 18,330 tons of honey per year. Yeah, that’s a lot. France is actually one of the largest honey producers in the European Union. The country is also one of the oldest bee industries in the world!
There are more than one million beehives in France… and over 400 of them are on the rooftops of Paris. There’s even a one on the top of the Opera Garnier. Now those are some sophisticated bees!
Speaking of that beehive on the top of the Opera Garnier, you better believe they make honey. Now that’s what we call a unique souvenir! Want to get your honey some of that Parisian honey? Visit the honey shop Famille Mary. The shop owner and his employees are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. You’ll also find honeys from many different regions of France; each has their own distinct flavor. You can even taste the more interesting products they sell (champagne honey, anyone?).
Famille Mary
There are a few shop addresses in Paris, so check here to see which is most convenient for you. Our favorite is:
75 Rue Saint-Antoine
75004 Paris
.
Champagne
Image: telegraph.co.uk
Champagne in France is a truly universal drink. It works as a pre-dinner ‘apero’, during dinner (in place of a white wine, yes!), as well as with dessert. So, for your friends who indulge, it seriously is the perfect bottle…
Champagne has a nice little history you can gift upon your friends or family, as well. Rumor has it that the bubbly wine was created by accident in the late 1600s.. Because the French region of Champagne is very far north, sometimes cold winter weather would interrupt the fermentation process. When Spring came, the temperatures would rise and the yeast would start fermenting again. This secondary fermentation was something winemakers used to do their best to prevent – who would possibly enjoy drinking bubbly wine?
Well, Benedictine monk Dom Perignon certainly did, as the legend goes. He reportedly exclaimed, “I am drinking the stars!”… and apparently he had a great marketing team because the sparkling wine caught on.
Something to keep in mind for this souvenir: Laws vary from country to country, but generally you can bring a liter of alcohol back home tax-free. More than that and you’ll have to declare it (which isn’t a big deal).
Half Champagne bottles are readily available at most ‘cave a vin’, so that’s an option for a few souvenirs, without going over the liter limit!
You can find Champagne at any ‘cave a vin’ (wine shop) or grocery store. If you’re staying in central Paris though, we suggest heading to the Marais cave a vin Julien de Savignac. With their knowledgeable staff and wide selection, we can’t say enough good things about this shop!
Julien de Savignac
73 Rue Saint-Antoine
75004 Paris
.
Crêpe Batter Mix
Image: francine.com
Mmm, the crêpe… The French take on the pancake, and oh what a pancake it is!
There are so many different ways to enjoy crêpes. A traditional and simple topping would be a bit of butter and sugar. But you can get more gourmand with nutella, or whipped cream, or the confiture de lait we mentioned above!
Crêpes originated in Brittany, a northwest region of France. In the 12th century, buckwheat came on the scene in Brittany, and this is what prompted the creation of the crêpe (originally called galettes). Now, buckwheat flour is used to make savory crêpes, and regular flour is used for the sweet.
Normal crepe batter recipes require you to let the batter sit for a couple hours… but luckily for you (and us), an easy solution for these treats can be found in supermarkets. A box of crêpe mix is a great souvenir – just add milk! And your toppings, of course.
You can find crêpe mix in the baking aisle of almost any grocery store in Paris. Head to the biggest grocery store you’ve seen for an almost 100% chance of finding it! A couple euros later, and you’re all set for souvenirs for your food-lover friends.
.
So there you have it – any of these souvenir ideas would send your friend or family over the edge with happiness. Do you want an easy way to visit shops where you can find sweet souvenirs like this? Our The Sweet Street tour is a must-do! You’ll get VIP visits of shops that sell some of the souvenirs listed above… and some truly spectacular ones that aren’t on this list.
.
Did we miss anything?
Let us know in the comments.
.
3 thoughts on “6 Paris Souvenirs for a Sweet Tooth”