souvenirs:sweet

Naturally, all my souvenirs from Paris were food-related. When you can buy French-themed items in Bay Area shops, why bother with mini Eiffel Towers? (Besides, we already have them from years past). This trip, I caught the limit my carry-on baggage would accommodate (no checked bags). First up, sweets. Kathi is an extraordinary baker and we visited dozens of chocolate shops and pâtisseries during our stay.

Here are the sweet souvenirs I picked up:

Thé du Hammam (Hammam Tea)
Inspired by a Turkish recipe using green tea, Thé du Hammam is a fruity blend reminiscent of fragrances used to perfume the hamman (bath house): roses, green dates, fruit and orange flower water and flower petals. Found at:

Les Palais des Thés
64, rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
01 48 87 80 60

Poudre de Cacao Créole (Caribbean cocoa powder)
This hot chocolate powder is really delicious: a combination of cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and rum! Found at:

Cacao et Chocolat
36 rue Vieille du Temple
75004 Paris
01 42 71 50 06

Hot Chocolate spoons
These were so clever and beautifully packaged! I bought four so my boys could try two flavors each. The idea is that you stir the spoon in hot milk until you reach the desired strength of chocolate flavor. Found at:

Mococha
89 rue Mouffetard
75005 Paris
01 47 07 13 66

Tahitian Vanilla Beans (great price by the way) Found at:

G. Detou
58 rue Tiquetonne
75002 Paris
01 42 36 54 67

Miel de Lavande (Lavender honey) Found at:

Oliviers & Co
90 Rue Montorgueil
Paris
01 44 82 62 28

I can’t remember where I picked up the black cherry (cerise noir) jam but it was delicious, too. We served it on cream cheese and Levain bread at the sangria party.