The nonsense of Cambrai
The nonsense of Cambrai
The candy is aptly named!
Candy striped with caramelized sugar, the Bêtise de Cambrai exists today in several flavors, but owes its origin to an unexpected mint aroma.
If two Cambresian companies dispute the paternity of it, the legend is the same… and rests on a resourceful apprentice.
Which, around 1830, would have dropped mint in the preparation of berlingots!
Put yourself in his place: in charge of the parental confectionery, he is slipping. What to do ? Tell the truth ? Never ! Better to camouflage and pretend that nothing had happened.
No sooner said than done, our apprentice pulls on the dough, again and again, until it whitens. His parents see nothing but fire and sell the cartons the following week.
Customers cannot ignore this unusual mint flavor in their carton, and come back en masse asking for more!
Result ?
The apprentice became king of Bêtises de Cambrai… and star of the family, when his parents had to beg him to extract the recipe from him.
Let's bet that the clumsy did not hide his pleasure and had to be asked before giving in!
