It may be a star dessert of the French but rumour has it, it was invented by an Italian.
Is anyone surprised that the pretty and delicate macaron – coveted cookie synonymous with chic cafes in Paris, trendy sweet treat among the fashionable and star gifts on Valentine’s Day – has a day all to itself?
Started by the ‘Picasso’ of pastry chefs, Pierre Hermé, every 20 March is now World Macaron Day, aka the day to be seen nibbling on the delicate meringue cookie.
As you unwrap your box and dig in to the sweet delight, here are some trivia about what could be the world’s prettiest sweet so you’ll have more appreciation for what you’re about to bite into.
Don’t confuse macarons with macaroons. The former is the melt in your mouth meringue sandwich with indulgent ganache, butter cream or jam in the centre. The latter is a circular cake made with ground almonds and coconut.
Macarons' birthplace is France, but it was first conceived by an Italian – the chef of Catherine de Medicis whom she brought with her to France when she married the King of France, Henry II, in 1533.
Macaron translates to mean fine dough and is derived from the Italian word ‘macarone’ which means meringue.
The modern macaron that sees two meringues pressed and held together by a flavoured ganache wasn’t created until the early 20th century by the now world-famous patisserie Ladurée. Before this, it was just the meringue had with no filling or flavour.
A good macaron is characterised by a smooth egg shell top surface with a skirt-like ruffles on the sides, called the foot. It should be crunchy on the surface and soft on the inside, with an overall melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
Macarons’ biggest enemy is moisture, even that in the air, which can turn its light fluffy texture to a soggy one if it is left to sit at room temperature. Ideally, they should be eaten within 3 days of being baked and be kept refrigerated in airtight containers.
An average macaron can carry anywhere between 100-160 calories each, depending on the ingredients and filling used.
Today, it is a nationally-acclaimed, best-selling cookie in pastry stores in France.
(Photos: Getty Images)
Got a craving for macarons now? TWG Tea is having a special buy-one-box-free-another promotion at all its outlets on 20 March.