edible jewellery

I have never owned or worn much jewellery, but I have always loved the boxes that jewellery comes in. I used to collect the boxes my mum discarded and used them for other purposes. My all-time favourite was a little white box that once held a ring; it was lined with peach-coloured velvet and in it I kept all the teeth I ever lost or had extracted. My own ivory jewels, I suppose you could call them. (I also kept my appendix in a jar for eight years until I left home - one of the few treasures I couldn't store in a jewellery box.)

So when I was in Paris and armed with The Patisseries of Paris (one of a number of beautifully produced mini guides published by The Little Bookroom), I was struck by the fact that so many smart patissiers and chocolatiers these days are packaging their goods in what could easily pass for jewellery boxes. Which makes them doubly attractive to me: I can eat the treats and keep the boxes, whereas I have mostly only ever had empty (real) jewellery boxes.

Of course, this being Paris, the packaging is very posh, and the edible jewels very delicious. I bought macarons from Pain de Sucre, a fabulous jewellery shop patisserie in the Marais. (The bright pink and green macaron is cherry and pistachio flavour - or ruby and emerald.)

But the Tiffany of chocolates must be Patrick Roger, whose creations come in heavy, deep turquoise boxes, whose shop windows are magnificent, whose interiors have a reverential hush, whose goods are almost, but not quite, displayed on velvet pads.

The glowing, jewel-like fruit jellies even have a little magnetic closure on their box, like a precious compact. I half-expected them to come on a chain with a clasp so I could wear them round my neck before eating them.

And when we have eaten all our jewels, I shall have the fun of deciding what to keep in the boxes themselves. No teeth this time though, as I am hanging onto the ones I have. (Even though I am partial to sweet things, I am also very partial to teeth-cleaning. The teeth in my original box were unblemished - I simply had too many for my mouth so they had to come out. Or they were teeny-tiny first teeth, like little one carat diamonds.)

Comments

[Jennifer]

The boxes are beautiful and the sweet treats inside? Good enough to eat.

[Georganna]

Oh, those French. They just have the touch, don't they?
Sounds like you had a grand time!
Blessings,
G

[little pink room]

These pictures are so lovely. My mother, my aunt and grandmother spend as much time coo-ing over boxes as they do their Christmas gifts. It's become a bit of a running joke in our family. This pictures are helping me to understand them a bit better. A x

[Sally]

I love french packaging too and on a recent trip to Paris I bought enough macarons from Laduree so that I could have them in a box! Which coincidentally I'm now using to keep brooches in.

[martha in mobile]

I convinced my mother to discard all my teeth that she had kept -- I threatened to have a necklace made from them so she could wear them close to her heart. But when I had a child, I ended up keeping her perfect little teeth, too.

[IreneS]

My daughter's there with you about the patisseries - when we were in Paris in February she said she wanted to live there because of the pedestrian crossings, the patisseries and the chocolatierres(sp?). So she's now doing French A level along with maths, further maths and physics.....

[Robyn]

Those chocolates are little works of art!

[Martina Tierney]

Oh, lucky you, absolutely delicious looking. What camera do you use Jane? Your pictures are wonderfully sharp even in close up.

[Karen]

Have you read Chocolat and subsequently Lollipop Shoes (set in Paris). Both are so sensuous, describing, the making, displaying, packaging and selling of the chocolates. You photos make me want to go to a chocolaterie/pattisserie and purchase something small, dark and delicious! I am into Guildford shortly where no doubt I shall be tempted by Maison Blanc or Thorntons.

[catofcuriosity]

Gosh, I still need to get my arse into gear and try a macaroon...this is getting ridiculous!!!! xxx

[Diane]

I too went to Paris for my 50th and the sky was exactly that colour. Spent a lot of time eating macaroons!!

[Helena]

Aw, I still have my milk teeth, but they're kept in a black, plastic film bottle (which now has become rather retro, i suppose).

You're right, though - those boxes are as fancy as the fancies inside them. I find myself always wanting to buy tins of biscuits from M&S at Christmas, just so I can re-use the tin!

[dawn draper]

Your post not only left me drooling over the gorgeous photos, I am overwhelmed with curiosity--what happened to your appendix after you left home?

[mathea]

I could almost convince myself that I was shopping at Patrick Roger just for the boxes...

[Marie]

Delectable, what lovely souvenirs from your trip.

[Devindra]

Wah. this blog is very interesting.

If you are interested in designs of rings, earrings, necklaces, breacelets, watches, Mehandi all at one site, then visit http://www.Mydevi.com

[selling silver]

its so true - i just had a friend come back from Chamonix and she bought me a box of chocolates in a box which cost her 16 euros (just for the box). nice chocs and a nice box for use afterwards!

[pete]

what a great idea!

i was wondering what i could get for my sister this christmas... now i know! thanks so much

[Tracy]

Love your jewels/chocolate analogy!

I also have an affinity for lovely boxes and containers. Even when I was a child, I begged my mom to keep old margarine tubs and powdered drink tins for me. Why??? I just wanted to put stuff in them!

[Carla (from Alabama)]

Lovely pictures. I am curious, what flavor are the other Macaroons? You left me wondering after the cherry and pistachio (or ruby and emerald)and the wonderful pictures.

[Karen]

Who would ever think candies and little cakes could be so colorful. The boxes make them look so special. Almost too good to eat. Almost.

[Lisa Giaquinto]

Those little round green ones reminded me of cabbages!

[Spinneret]

Ah, the distinctive blue of a Tiffany's box. Surely there is more than coincidence at play in Mssr. Roger's choice of packaging.

[Shanda]

Love your blog and your creative way of thinking. I'll never look at a box of chocolates the same way again. :)

[Penny]

There is a wonderful macaroon shop in Rouen, where I am heading in 4 hours for Christmas with my grandsons.(And to take my d-in-l The Gentle Art... as it's her turn!) Have a wonderful Christmas, love Penny xx

[Pomona]

Have a very happy Christmas!

Pomona x

[felicity]

hope you have a very merry christmas!
fliss xx

[Emma]

These boxes really do contain treasure. Just the sight of those fruit jellies has made my mouth water. Even as a jewellery-maker those exquisite chocolates might just have the edge for me!

[Lolla]

beautiful writing and packages. i'm not a big sweet eater but these coloured jewels are almost too pretty to eat.

[Bee Bee]

This is a brilliant idea for recycling! And, gosh, the boxes are awfully beautiful.

[Martina Tierney]

I just wanted to say thank you Jane for being such a huge influence in my life - your posts have educated and inspired me tremendously. I love your style and the things you post about. Wishing you and your family a fabulous New Year and decade!

[Nancy]

Love your blog Jane, please take a look at http://handmadeexchange.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/getting-ready/

[Jane Cato]

Delightful.

[Jo Ludbrook]

Oh yes. Those macaron boxes are VERY addictive as are their small but perfectly formed contents. I had a small sojourn into the art of macaron making and discovered I could by boxes from the same company who make them for Laduree.Have a look and swoon.
http://www.embaline.com/index.php?Menu=USEMBALINE

[Tpoole69]

Mmmm... Eat or wear? I think I'll eat! Yum!

[Holly]

Macaroons, well pictures of them make me smile, and feel delight....but where do i find them in the states? Does anyone have a recipe?