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Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
A small, hard, crunchy biscuit from the Hautes-Alpes, shaped by hand in the Queyras and nibbled with coffee, for dessert or as an aperitif.
Pastry or bakery speciality from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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The croquette du Queyras is a small, hard, crunchy biscuit that can be enjoyed in both savoury and sweet versions. The presentation given by the Guillestrois and Queyras tourist office of its workshop describes it as having "become emblematic of the Queyras". Its maker goes further: "La Croquette du Queyras is the first biscuit known as the 'croquant des Hautes-Alpes', famous throughout the département and beyond".
A gastronomic directory of the département refers instead to the "croquants du Queyras": small, dry biscuits made with almonds and hazelnuts, which children sometimes enjoy as an afternoon snack and others serve for dessert.
Who developed this recipe, and when, remains uncertain. An introductory article claims that the croquettes were "invented more than a century ago" and that, "since 1985", very few tourists leave the Queyras without their little bag of treats. For its part, the workshop that makes them states that it has been producing its biscuit "since 1985 in the Queyras". As for the tourist office, it speaks of "an age-old recipe kept alive by a lover of good food", without providing a date.
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Today, the croquette is made on site in Château-Ville-Vieille, in the "La Croquette du Queyras" workshop based at the Maison de l'Artisanat, and sold in shops; according to the tourist office's listing, the croquettes are "lovingly crafted there by Valentin". The Biscuiterie des Cîmes, run by Valentin Arts in Château-Ville-Vieille, offers it under the name "croquette des alpages" in the online boutique of the Coopérative des Artisans du Queyras - Pays du Viso.
Flavour
it comes from the main ingredient, "generously added" according to the workshop; the almond version blends roasted almonds, honey and orange blossom flavouring.
Texture
a hard, crunchy biscuit, described by its maker as "crisp, light and flavoured".
The croquettes come in several flavours: honey, chocolate, almond, hazelnut, walnut-fig, blueberry and raspberry. The introductory article also adds garlic. A savoury version also exists, "just the thing to liven up your drinks", writes the tourist office. In addition to almond, the Biscuiterie des Cîmes notably offers croquettes des alpages with hazelnut, honey, walnut-fig and chocolate chips.
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Croquettes can be nibbled at any time of day: with tea or coffee, as an aperitif, for dessert, and even with sweet wine or champagne, according to the introductory article. Their maker also suggests them for dessert, with coffee, in fruit salads, or when out hiking. Stored in an airtight tin, they retain their crispness for several weeks.
No producer is listed for this product yet.