Calissons

Calissons d'Aix, multi-flavour Arlequins, exceptional editions: which calissons to choose?

The choice begins with the recipe. The calisson d'Aix is the original: finely ground Provence almonds, Cavaillon melons candied in Apt and candied orange peel beneath a royal icing, the recipe that the calissonnières and calissonniers of Le Roy René have perpetuated in Aix-en-Provence. The Arlequin calissons take this base into multiple flavours, from raspberry to fig, orange to lemon or hazelnut-cocoa, for colourful assortments inspired by the Aix carnival. Our exceptional calissons pair almond paste with rare accords, bold and subtle marriages in which originality always meets the time-honoured craft of Le Roy René, such as the creations imagined with fellow Provençal houses, all recognised as Living Heritage Companies. Small calissons offer the same pleasure in bite-sized morsels, and the collector box dresses the tasting in an illustrated tin designed to be kept as a beautiful object. The whole range springs from a single standard: that of calissons of Provence, crafted in our workshops since 1920.

What are calissons of Provence made of?

At the Roy René confectionery, the formula fits in one sentence, repeated by our teams for generations: one third almonds, one third candied melon, one third sugar syrup. The paste is laid on a fine sheet of unleavened bread, then covered with a smooth, matte royal icing of egg white that underlines its emblematic diamond silhouette. The almonds come from the Mediterranean and from Provence: every calisson d'Aix contains 50% Provence almonds, the fruit of Le Roy René's commitment to reviving the Provence almond industry since 2014. The melon, harvested in Cavaillon, is candied in Apt, the world capital of candied fruit. It is this simple composition, of carefully selected ingredients and nothing else, that gives calissons their finesse and their natural place among the 13 desserts of the Provençal tradition.

Boxes, sticks and assortments: formats to savour or to gift

The calissons of Le Roy René can also be chosen by format. The diamond-shaped box echoes the confection's emblematic silhouette, the rectangular box graces larger tables, the réglette stick slips into a bag as a light attention to offer, and pouches of small calissons naturally invite sharing. To discover several flavours at once, our assortments bring together calissons d'Aix and multi-flavour Arlequins. And when the calisson meets the house's other delicacies, nougats and fruit jellies, it becomes the heart of our gourmet gift boxes, perfect for any occasion.