The sweer French import

Macarons from Laduree

On a recent trip to Shanghai to open the first outlet of Laduree, the French patisserie, on the Chinese mainland, David Holder, its chairman, says, "Macarons are the right dessert for every season".

The long expected counter, dressed in the bakery's signature green and gold livery, offers macarons in 12 flavors at 23 yuan a piece. The acclaimed chocolate and salty caramel flavors so popular back in France are also available here.

Holder, who claims his family invented the marzipan meringue sandwich cookies filled with butter-cream or jam, says every macaron sold in Shanghai is air-flown from his kitchens in France and have not been tampered with to suit local tastes.

"It's actually the least sweet and most original macarons on the market, because we believe the less sweet it is, the more flavor you get."

For summer, we recommend the tea and raspberry flavors.

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