cassis-boudier

Delights of Burgundy

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As part of the French May programme, French GourMay each year features a region of France — this year, the protagonist is Burgundy. Last month, UbiFrance co-organised the Bourgogne Grand Tasting at Langham Place Hotel, Hong Kong, showcasing the fine wines of 30-plus producers from Burgundy.   

Wine-lovers might be easily carried away – physically and mentally – by the likes of Bonnes-Mares, Clos-Vougeot, Corton-Charlemagne, and Grands Échezeaux… Yet, Burgundy is much more than “just” fine wines: Moutarde de Dijon, escargots, and numerous cheeses, but to name a few. CLOSER has chosen two Burgundian gems for you to discover and savour.    

Contact 

Shirley Wu  I  UbiFrance  I  [email protected]  I  +852 3752 9130

 

Crème de Cassis 

Hercule Poirot’s Favourite
Photo Courtesy of Gabriel Boudier
Agatha Christie’s Hercules Poirot was meticulous with details and fastidious in life; the Belgian gourmand suffered from a delicate stomach, and would easily exclaim “mon estomac…”. Fine wines aside, the refreshingly and sumptuously fruity Crème de Cassis (blackcurrant) was his favourite drink.   
Presumably the oldest of the Crème de Fruits series, Crème de Cassis, in its current form, has been in production since 1841, replacing the medieval herbal liqueur Ratafia (from Latin “rata fiat”, literally “it is ratified”, referring to the fact that it was enjoyed at weddings), whose production began before the 10th century AD.   
 
A highly versatile liqueur, Crème de Cassis can be enjoyed well-chilled, on the rocks, with lemon or lime, mixed with water, soda, or – for the classy – with Champagne to create the majestic Kir Royale. Now complemented by its cousins, including Crème de Mûres (blackberry), Crème de Framboises (raspberry), Crème de Pêche (peach), and Crème de Fraises (strawberry), imagination is the limit of this liqueurs’ versatility. These Crèmes on finely crushed ice make a lovely homemade sorbet.   
 
Founded in 1874, Maison Gabriel Boudier is a leading producer of Crème de Cassis. Owned and managed by the Battault family for generations, as Brand Manager Pierre-André Battault explains, “more than merely products, these are as much Burgundian tradition as family pride”. In addition to the Crème series, Gabriel Boudier’s Eaux de Vie and saffron-infused Gin are equally impressive.   
Supplied mainly to high-end restaurants and lounges, Maison Gabriel Boudier’s fine drinks are now available in over 70 countries and regions around the world. To discover Maison Gabriel Boudier’s various other gems, visit: www.boudier.com   
 
Contact 
Pierre-André Battault  I  Maison Gabriel Boudier  I  [email protected]  I  +33 03807 43333
 
Anis de Flavigny 

a Taste of History and Culture
Photos courtesy of Les Anis de Flavigny
 

Are all things in Burgundy centuries old? Was everything there created and produced by clergymen? Well, maybe…   

Produced exclusively in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain – voted as one of the 100 most beautiful villages in France – in Burgundy, Anis de Flavigny are an antique and exquisite sweet, each candy made of a whole anise seed, coated with sugar with various flavourings, roughly one gram apiece. Quite hard in texture, connoisseurs let the sweets, two by two, melt in the mouth to unveil the aniseed.   

Anis de Flavigny have been produced for centuries, following the authentic recipe dating back to 1591. First mentioned by the ancient Roman traveller Flavinius (who reputedly brought aniseeds to Gaul from Syria), hence Flavigny, the sweets were first made by Benedictine monks of the neighbouring Abbaye Saint-Pierre, founded in 719. By 1814, one year before Napoleon’s final defeat by the Seventh Coalition, there were eight producers. Today, all but one is left — Maison Troubat, which has been family-owned for generations.   

As Brand Manager Vanessa Labaume explains, “with a dedicated 30-strong team, we have been able to distribute in numerous countries around the world. For us, Anis de Flavigny are Burgundian tradition in the form of sweets, and we are proud to continue the craft, even if single-handedly”.   

Intriguing as they are, Anis de Flavigny are unpretentiously affordable — it is no wonder that, through good times and bad, many people in France grew up with these sweets as childhood treats. To discover the charm and allure of Les Anis de Flavigny, visit: www.anis-flavigny.com   

 
Contact 
Vanessa Labaume  I  Les Anis de Flavigny  I  [email protected]  I  +33 03809 62088
 

 

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