La fleur d'orange

Here’s something unique about the specific area where we live in Southern France.  We happen to live very close to the town of Grasse, which is considered the world’s capital of perfume. In fact our town, which is called Plascassier, is considered to be a community of Grasse.  Per Wiki, Grasse “is the center of the French perfume industry and it produces at least two-thirds of France’s natural aromas (for perfume and for food flavourings).”  Based on my limited experience, I would venture that the other one-third of the “natural” aromas I’ve picked up here come from foreigners, local meat & fish markets, the mushroom trade, cigarettes, and cab drivers. Grasse has all kinds of perfume factories and tours, as well as museums, gardens, and other typical kitschy tourist traps in which I can’t wait to see the gift shops. So where am I going with all this? The bakeries in this area—because of their proximity to Grasse—offer a little something extra in their variety of amazing baked goods and pastries. They buy up orange blossom water, a byproduct of the perfume factories nearby, and they put some of it into their bread recipes.

As you can see this Orange Blossom Bread has the same basic shape as a flower blossom, and the French call it "Fleur d'Orange."  I’m pretty sure this bread is completely unique to this area, and it’s in all the local bakeries.  We finally bought a few to try out. So what do they taste like, you ask? Imagine a large soft Bavarian pretzel, stripped of salt and with a hint of sweetness, mixed with Body Shop Jolly Orange Body Butter. Are you there with me? Well, these Orange Blossoms taste almost that good! The aftertaste is even worse, like you just licked the pollen off a bee.  So, yes, even though they are cool-looking, they are not going to edge out pain au chocolate anytime soon in our book. Maybe it’s an acquired taste.  We’ll put this bread squarely in the “Been There, Done That” category. They will, however, remind a person—bittersweetly—of Lehi Bakery’s amazing Orange Rolls.