MAXIM'S DE PARISGourmet French Candies Assortment of French Specialties: Calissons, Fruit Jellies, Salted Caramels and Nougats, 32 pieces 6.9oz

Reviewed on: 8March18Contents of this small colorful box, 32 pieces of candy made in France. All candies are individually cellophane wrapped.4 Almond Calissons4 Raspberry Calissons4 Pear Jelly pieces4 Cherry Jelly pieces8 Soft Salted Toffee pieces4 Soft Vanilla Nougat pieces (with Peanuts)4 Soft Raspberry Nougat pieces (with Peanuts)I ordered this product in order to try the Calissons based on seeing them on the TV show Delicious Destinations and thought they looked interesting. What these turned out to be were pieces of Marzipan with a thin top of a sugar based coating. With the coating containing the almond or raspberry flavor.The Jellies were definitely the highlight of this assortment, while the pear jellies did have a true essence of the real fruit and were noteworthy. It was the cherry jellies that exploded with a cherry flavor that we don't ever see here in the USA except from the fruit itself. Unlike that artificial cherry flavor/taste which we are accustomed to this is the real deal, they nailed it.This product comes with an expiration date on it, yeah for real! It is because of the Toffees (more on the caramel side as opposed to hard toffee) in this box. This is because they use 9% butter making them according to the ingredients listing on the box. I suppose the expiration date is given to keep these pieces from going rancid due to the high butter content. This boxes date was September 2018. 6 months out. Yes you can taste the butter and they were good.The strawberry and vanilla nougats were the 8 pieces that contained peanuts in them. These candies were melt in your mouth but if I'm going for nougat candy I prefer the chewy nougats brought to us from the kitchens of Brach's. The peanuts in them did not taste stale like some other candies containing peanuts.Would I reorder this candy assortment? Probably not, I am not a real big fan of candy in general. This candy would make an exceptional gift and if you are visiting someone in the hospital, or maybe a realtor type person, or anybody really that is accustomed to giving gifts frequently then this product would make a fine gift to give or receive.

We're a family that knows and likes many different kinds of candy. I got this assortment to give as special "french" gifts, but most of the candies were too bland. The jellies were "ok", but the nougats and marzipan were as bland as cardboard. Even the caramels tasted old and not creamy - like cheap candy. Although the red box and internal packaging were pleasing to the eye, the product was a complete bust and disappointment. We do not recommend and WILL NOT EVER buy again. (Note: Maxim's chocolate covered crispy crepes were tasty yet overpriced, but at least an interesting treat with quality chocolate. In both cases will not buy again; there are too many quality local candies practically everywhere).

These candies came quickly and in perfect condition! It was a birthday gift for a friend who adores Paris. They are iconic, traditional sweets, small and not overly sweet, made for savoring one a day while dreaming of Maxim's!

Nice box, but disappointing. Pricey for so little.

This is one of the fine candies. Individually wrapped. Some of them burst with flavor and others with more subtle but nice sweetness. It makes a nice gift to those who appreciate good candies, but not for those looking for quantity or sickly sweetness as in typical American snacks. Price is about right.

Nicely individually wrapped, but basically tasteless and somewhat stale.

Wonderful.

Old, dry and truly tastes awful.