Figgy goodness
When I was in New York visiting Dean and Deluca, I noticed these French fig caramels. However at $14 for a box of 18 small squares, I wasn’t too enthused. However, returning home, I saw them on sale at Sur La Table, and decided to try them out.
These caramels contain all the conventional ingredients of a caramel with 25% candied fig and walnuts. These are A.O.C. (Appellation of Controlled Origin) caramels. In short, A.O.C. ensures product uniformity and regional support. Paris Caramels, the manufacturer, also makes chocolate, hazelnut, coffee, vanilla and gingerbread-flavored caramels.
This caramel is rather light and milky. I think this is in part due to the high proportion of dried fruit and nuts in this recipe. The overwhelming flavor is from the figs, which reminds me of the Chinese date and nut candies I used to eat a lot as a kid. The caramel seems to serve largely as a binder that provides some creamyness to the mixture. This caramel could benefit from a little salt to balance the overwhelming sweetness from the fruit.
However, I did find the texture of this candy addictive, and I would really love to try the other flavors.
