Maffren

Provençal nougat made with honey and almonds comes from Maffren, a confectioner founded in 1945 by Daniel Maffren and now based in Le Poët in the Hautes-Alpes.

About Maffren

Based in
Le Poët, Hautes-Alpes, France
Founded
1945
Known for
Provençal nougat

Daniel Maffren started his confectionery in 1945, just after the war, and the company now works from Le Poët in the Hautes-Alpes. Since 2016 it has belonged to the Saveurs et Délices group, owned by the Buton family. Nougat is still at the center of the range, alongside other Provençal sweets.

Its nougat follows the Provençal style, built on honey and almonds.

Maffren questions

What is the difference between white and black nougat?

White nougat is made by whipping egg white into a mousse sweetened with honey or sugar and folding in nuts, then letting it set; the Provençal kind is soft. Black nougat is a hard candy of honey and almonds made without egg white. Maffren has worked in the Provençal nougat tradition since Daniel Maffren founded the company in 1945.

Why is nougat a Christmas sweet in Provence?

In Provence, the big supper on Christmas Eve ends with thirteen desserts, a number that stands for Jesus and the twelve apostles. The exact items vary from family to family, but nougat is a regular among them, set out with dried fruit, nuts and candied citron, and the spread stays on the table until December 27.

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