Dragée
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A dragée (
/dræˈʒeɪ/ dra-ZHAY; from Greek tragêmata "sweets, treats" through French) is a form of confectionery that can be used for decorative or symbolic purposes in addition to consumption.
A classic, popular version of dragée are whole almonds coated with a sugar shell in various colors. Called mulabbas in Arabic, peladillas in Spanish, confetti in Italian and Jordan almonds or sugared almonds in English, these confections have a long history, and are traditionally associated with weddings and special celebrations. Throwing or handing out these candies at such occasions dates back centuries, and is meant to ensure prosperity, fertility, happiness, and good luck. The current tradition of throwing multi-colored paper at special occasions takes the Italian name from dragées, confetti.
The town of Verdun, France, had acquired a reputation for its dragées by the 13th century. Originally the dragée was a spiced lump of sugar eaten as a digestive after meals.
In Spain, Casinos (a Valencian village) has a famous production of dragées and nougats since 19th century.
The process by which the sugar shell is applied to the center is often known as sugar panning.[1]
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[edit] Chocolate
With the introduction of chocolate to the Old World and its popularity once an eating form was developed in the early 19th century, there have been chocolate dragées with multi-colored candy shells. Commercial brands of these dragées include M&M's and the Nestlé brand Smarties.
[edit] Metallic
A third form of dragée is a small sphere of sugar, used primarily in the decoration of cookies, cakes, and other forms of bakery. These dragées are produced in various sizes, typically 3 and 4 millimeters in diameter. This is larger than nonpareils and smaller than large pearl tapioca.
Silver dragées have long been used for both wedding and holiday food decoration. More recently, metallic gold, copper, and rainbow colors (red, green, blue, etc.), as well as pearlescent colors, have become available. Another term for dragées is cachous.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers the metallic-finish dragées to be inedible, and they are sold with a notice that they are for decorative purposes only. Early in the 20th century, the silver finish may have contained mercury (it does not now). The sale of these dragées was banned for some time. Although the metallic-finish dragées can be purchased in 49 U.S. states, they are no longer sold in California due to a 2003 lawsuit against several sellers.[2] However in other countries (including the United Kingdom) they are classed as food items.
[edit] Other forms
Mentos are a commercial brand of "chewy dragee". This description and labelling is used in Europe and Asia; the common American names are mints and candy.[citation needed]
In Europe, the term "dragee" may be used to describe any sugar coated confection, including nuts, raisins, chocolate or licorice pieces.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ E. B. Jackson, ed. (1999). Sugar Confectionery Manufacture (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 251. ISBN 9780834212978. http://books.google.com/books?id=GFw8HEqnLvIC&pg=PA251&dq=dragee+panning&lr=&as_brr=0&ei=4MRjSpLPCJDKkATqioCxDg.
- ^ Meisler, Andy (December 18, 2005). "A Tempest on a Tea Cart". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/18/magazine/tm-dragee51.
- Dictionnaire de Français Larousse (1996) ISBN 2-03-320222-4
- Richardson, Tim (2002) Sweets: A History of Candy, Bloomsbury ISBN 1-58234-307-1
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