Bergamot Candies from Nancy Bergamotes de Nancy

love the delicate flavor

These delicious little candies from France are truly delightful. The bergamot flavor is very unique and incredibly intense, and I've used them as a flavorant in several dishes. Try adding them to any dish that contains orange or other citrus to elevate the flavors; you won't realize how mundane duck l'orange was until you've tried it with bergamot in the sauce. Or drop a couple in the blender next time you make smoothies (or Margaritas) for a truly unique flavor profile. I keep a bag on my station at the restaurant and somehow they've found their way into several of my recipes.

These are obviously very old, cloudy, and stale. They taste OK, but the texture is awful. They may not be safe to eat.

My bedside is almost always stocked with a bag or two of these bergamot candies, which I think are the best candies I've ever tasted. I love to curl up with "in bed with blankie, a bear, a book & a bag of bergamot bon-bons" (my husband likes alliteration.)(the bear is a refrence to our dogs as well as to my childhood Care Bear.) He loves to come into the room to find me literally curled up around our sleeping puppy, as my iPad kindle app and a nearby scented candle cast an otherworldly glow across my contented face and the dozens of candy wrappers strewn about the bedside floor. It's gotten to where I almost can't read comfortably without my cherished candies!TasteThe taste is a challenge to describe, but not a challenge to fall in love with. Though "unusual" by American palates, it is not an acquired or foreign flavor like rose or lavender, which we are more familiar with purely as fragrances, not flavors. It has a very sweet burnt-sugar taste at first, quickly melting into a complexity of full-bodied richness, very much like a strong, sweet herbal tea. Which is not a surprise, because the classic, well-loved Earl Grey tea is flavored with bergamot. The pieces are a square shape that fills my mouth, and they last a good while. I usually end up crunching into them when they get down to a sliver, for a last burst of flavor.PackagingThe packaging is simple, and recyclable. It's easy to dig my hand into the bag, pull out a handfull to keep right by my pillow, and grab one at a time. Unwrapping them is a snap - very important for someone with crippling juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - all I have to do is hold each end and tug gently, and the golden treasure is released in one quick motion.PriceThe only *only* drawback to being so addicted to these candies is the high price. That's the reason i couldn't give all 5 stars. Thank goodness they ship through Amazon Prime! I understand these candies are imported, but at the rate I go through a bag, and the cost per bag (I won't say so as not to date this review) these are even more expensive than they first appear to be. You may think "$x for a mere bag of bon-bons?!" and you'd be right. As in love with them as I am, I cannot always afford such a luxury.So I wish wish wish that the price would go down a few dollars, or there could be a subscription service that ensures I'm well-stocked while offering a discount. I buy so often as it is, it just seems like good sense.*UPDATE 2/2020* - the price has gone down since I first wrote this review, and I wanted to be sure to mention that. And yes, I’m still in love with these candies!ConclusionThe seller does have excellent cutomer service and superb selection of delights you rarely find in the States. I am a repeat client of the most repeating repeat purchases: I will *never* stop loving these candies. For my birthday and Christmas, the top of my list is a dozen bags, a true jackpot since I can only allow myself to buy two at a time. Imagine a dozen! And imagine a woman asking for CANDY for her 31st birthday!These bergamot candies are THAT GOOD.

I will pass on these, I know what bergamot is, so was disappointed. Will not purchase again.

I was looking for an Earl Grey candy but found these. They don't taste like Earl Grey but they are a lovely, delicious flavor different than any other hard candies. I give them as gifts because no other bergamot hard candies are available in the USA.

The are great little hard candies. Not too sweet with a subtle taste.

They were delicious & make good add ons for gifts.