Calissons d'Aix-en-Provence Almond Candies

Stroll through the central square in any town in Provence and you’re sure to pass a candy shop or two. Step inside, and you can’t help but notice the calissons. This local specialty is a candy made from almond flour and candied melon, molded into a rounded diamond shape. With a texture like chewy marzipan and a flavor that’s distinctly fruity and notably almond-y but not too sweet, they’re a real treat.

We’ve searched for years to find calissons we love, and we finally found them from Maison Léonard Parli, where they’ve been making these traditional candies in the town of Aix-en-Provence since 1874. They use granite millstones to grind the almonds with a mix of candied melon and orange, preserving all the flavor while creating a satisfyingly toothsome texture.

The candies come packed in an adorable calisson-shaped box, making for a gift as pretty as it is tasty.

Gluten free