Confectionery A La Reine Margot

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A bit of history The history of the berlingot in Cauterets is closely linked to the thermal baths whose sulfur water is used to treat the throat. At the beginning of the 19th century, it was used according to the recommendations of certain doctors to reduce the sulfur taste of water, the sugar optimizing the benefits of the cure. All the thermal spas of the Pyrenees then have their factory of berlingots. At the beginning of the 20th century, Cauterets was the largest spa town in France. In addition to those taking the waters, there are thousands of pilgrims from Lourdes who go up to visit the town and the Pont d'Espagne. A dozen factories of berlingots were then created, there are now four left. The sugary smells and the quaintness of the activity set the mood for the whole city and draw crowds to this day. Artisanal production The mixture of water, sugar and glucose syrup, flavored and cooked at 150°, is poured onto a marble table. This mixture is cooled until a sugar of a certain consistency is obtained. This paste is worked to obtain several shades of colors or stripes. Then, corded, it passes through a "berlingotière" to obtain the final shape of the berlingot. And now, time for tasting… The berlingot is a hard, translucent candy that comes in the form of small pyramids of different colors and always streaked with white. A must-have to take in your suitcases!

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