{{Short description|Traditional candy from Aix-en-Provence}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Expand French|Calisson}} {{Infobox food | name = Calisson | image = Calisson.jpg | image_size = 300px | caption = | alternate_name = ''canisson'', ''canissoun'' | country = France | region = | creator = | type = Confectionery | served = cold | main_ingredient = candied fruit (especially melons and oranges), almond meal or flour, fondant | variations = | calories = | other = }}
'''Calissons''' are a traditional French candy consisting of a smooth, pale yellow, homogeneous paste of candied fruit (especially melons and oranges) and ground almonds topped with a thin layer of royal icing.<ref>{{cite book |last1 = Hopkins |first1 = Kate |title = Sweet Tooth: The Bittersweet History of Candy |date = 2012 |publisher = St. Martin's Press |location = New York |isbn = 9780312668105 |page = [https://archive.org/details/sweettoothbitter0000hopk/page/112 112] |edition = 1st |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/sweettoothbitter0000hopk/page/112 }}</ref> They have a texture similar to that of marzipan, but with a fruitier, distinctly melon-like flavour. They are often almond-shaped and are typically about five centimeters (two inches) in length.
Calissons are traditionally associated with the town of Aix-en-Provence, France, and most of the world's supply is still made in the Provence region.
==History== The calisson is believed to have its origins in south of France. Its most probable etymology, established by the sociolinguist specializing in Provençal Philippe Blanchet in 1998, is that the Provençal word ''calissoun'' is formed from "''chalice''" and from the diminutive "''-oun''", meaning "''small chalice''". Small in size and small in sacred value. The word "''chalice''", in fact, in Provençal as in French (we have the form "''calitz''" from the ancient langue d'oc), first designated the sacred cup of the Eucharist, and by extension communion itself. Now communion is wine and the host, distributed in a cup. And the calisson is, ritually, a kind of host.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Blanchet |first1=Philippe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZvaCwAAQBAJ&q=philippe+blanchet+calisson |title=La Provence pour les Nuls poche |last2=Turc |first2=Jean-Michel |last3=Venture |first3=Rémi |date=2016-04-07 |publisher=edi8 |isbn=978-2-7540-8952-4 |language=fr}}</ref>
A popular legend traces the introduction of calissons to Provence around the mid-15th century at the second wedding of King René of Anjou.<ref name="nougat">{{cite book |last=Langer |first=Patrick |title=Calissons d'Aix, Nougats de Provence |publisher=Equinox |year=1999|isbn=2841351580|lang=fr}}{{page needed|date=September 2017}}</ref> Others suggest that it was not introduced in its modern form until the 16th century, as this was when almonds became an established crop in Aix-en-Provence.<ref name=tourism>{{cite web |url = http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-calissons.htm |title = Calissons |publisher = Aix en Provence Tourism Office |access-date = 25 January 2011 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100920092137/http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-calissons.htm |archivedate = 20 September 2010}}</ref>
==Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)== The calisson status has been protected in France since 1991 which means that local manufacturers need to follow strict methods to make them and that only applies in France. During 14 years, the French Union of Calisson makers were not able to get the international rights over the calisson as they could not agree on the exact ingredients of the recipe. To prevent foreign companies from using the ''Calisson d'Aix'' name, the union applied for the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in 2015 but it was already too late. In 2016, the French Union makers started a long legal battle with a Chinese company who had already trademarked the candy in China under the "Kalisong" designation.<ref>{{cite web |title=France battles China over sweets trademark |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38005875 |website=BBC |accessdate=31 January 2019 |date=16 November 2016}}</ref> In 2017 the French union finally won and blocked the Chinese trademark registration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sweet Victory: French Candymakers Win China Legal War |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/china-france-calisson-candy/4162195.html |website=VOA |date=13 December 2017 |publisher=Agence France-Presse |accessdate=31 January 2019 }}</ref>
== See also ==
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070403220249/http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/uk/aix-calissons.htm Calissons - Aix en Provence, Aix en Provence Office de Tourisme] * [https://www.calisson.com/ Le Roy René, producer of calisson]
{{Nut confections}}
Category:Aix-en-Provence Category:Occitan desserts Category:French desserts Category:French confectionery
{{confectionery-stub}} Category:Almond confectionery