Dragée
 A form of dragée:Liebesperlen( "love pearls" ) | |
| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
Adragée(/dræˈʒeɪ/drazh-AY,UKalso/ˈdrɑːʒeɪ/DRAH-zhay,USalso/drɑːˈʒeɪ/drah-ZHAY,French:[dʁaʒe])[a]is a bite-sizedconfectionerywith a hard outer shell.
Use
[edit]Jordan almonds
[edit]
In their most classic form of dragée andcomfit,Jordan almonds, also known as koufeta,[1]consist ofalmondswhich aresugar pannedin various pastel colors.[2]
Jordan almonds are often used aswedding favors—likebomboniere—with the "bitter" almonds and the "sweet" sugar symbolizing the bitterness of life and sweetness of love. The treats are often packaged in groups of five to represent happiness, health, longevity, wealth, and fertility.[3]At European weddings, the almonds are placed in groups of five—an odd number that is indivisible—to symbolize the unity of husband and wife.[4]In the Middle East, Jordan almonds are considered an aphrodisiac so there are always plenty on hand for the newlyweds and their guests.[4]
The termJordanis most likely a corrupted version of theFrenchwordjardin,meaning "garden", hence, a cultivated rather than wild almond.[5][6]However, others suggest the term referred to a variety of almonds originally grown along theJordan Rivercharacterized by long, thin, slender, rather smooth kernels in thick, heavy shells.[7]
Jordan almonds are thought to be derived from honey-covered almonds found inAncient times.According to an unverified legend, a confectioner named Julius Dragatus served honey-covered almonds called dragati at weddings and births.[4]When sugar became more readily available in the 15th century, the nuts were coated in sugar instead.
Still others believe thatJordanis a corruption of the name of the town ofVerdunin the northeast ofFrance.In the 13th century, when the medieval crusaders brought sugar to Europe after their campaigns in the Holy Land, it was very valuable and considered medicinal. During that time, an apothecary in Verdun began coating other medicines with sugar (calling them dragées) to make them easier to take.[4]The town of Verdun became very well known for itsdragées de Verdun.
Panned chocolate
[edit]Other chocolate dragées with multi-colored candy shells areM&M's.Initially designed to allow easy transport and consumption of chocolate for the U.S. military, they have evolved into a popular candy, but are also sold as decorative dragées in 25 different colors.
Easter
[edit]In Portugal sugared almonds ('amêndoas de Páscoa') are the most traditional treat and gift rather than chocolate eggs. Entire aisles in supermarkets may be devoted to them in the run-up to Easter itself.
Medicinal dragées
[edit]Used to increase tolerability of bitter medication, medicated candies or sugar-coated pills can be referred to as dragées.
Metallic decorative balls
[edit]
Another form of dragée is a small sphere of sugar, in the Commonwealth often called acachou,used primarily in thedecorationofcookies,cakes,and other forms of bakery. These are produced in various sizes, typically 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 in) in diameter. This is larger thannonpareilsand smaller than largepearl tapioca.
Silver dragées have long been used for both wedding and holiday food decoration. More recently, metallic gold, copper, rainbow colors (red, green, blue, etc.), andpearlescentcolors have become available.
In most countries, including theUnited KingdomandFrance,silver dragées are classified as food items. However, since 1906, US regulations have prohibited the manufacture or sale of any food that uses any metal or mineral substance, including silver, as a food coloring, coating, or additive.[8]TheU.S. Food and Drug Administrationconsiders the silver and gold metallic-finish sugar dragées to be inedible, and they may be sold only when accompanied with a notice that they are to be used for decorative purposes only.[8]Almonds that have been coated the same way are not permitted at all.[8]Although the metallic-finish dragées can be purchased in 49 US states, they are no longer sold in California.[9]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^fromAncient Greekτραγήματα(tragḗmata)'dried fruits; sweets, treats' (cf.τρώγωtrṓgō'to eat'), throughLatintragēmata'sweets' and then Frenchdragée'sweet with almond filling'.
References
[edit]- ^Chu, Anita. Field Guide to Candy: How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable. Philadelphia: Quirk, 2009.
- ^E. B. Jackson, ed. (1999).Sugar Confectionery Manufacture(2nd ed.). Springer. p. 251.ISBN978-0-8342-1297-8.
- ^Chu, Anita. Field Guide to Candy: How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable. Philadelphia: Quirk, 2009
- ^abcd"Jordan Almonds – The Delicious Mystery – Candy Atlas".Candy Atlas.Retrieved2015-10-29.
- ^Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 17th edition, 2005, p. 750.
- ^The History of The “Confetti of Sulmona” and the Pelino HouseArchivedOctober 22, 2011, at theWayback Machine
- ^"CPG Sec. 570.100 Jordan Almonds – Common or Usual Name".Fda.gov. 1941-10-20.Retrieved2013-01-06.
- ^abcOffice of Regulatory Affairs (2020-02-14)."CPG Sec 545.200 Confectionery Decorations (Nutritive and Non-Nutritive)".U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Retrieved2020-05-29.
- ^Meisler, Andy (December 18, 2005)."A Tempest on a Tea Cart".The Los Angeles Times.
Sources
[edit]- Dictionnaire de Français Larousse(1996).ISBN2-03-320222-4
- Richardson, Tim (2002),Sweets: A History of Candy,Bloomsbury.ISBN1-58234-307-1
External links
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