Remi Chauveau Notes
Thierry Vial’s mesmerizing Berlingots, set to the romantic rhythm of C’est si bon, invite us into a sensory journey through France’s rich candy-making traditions, where color, craft, and nostalgia sweetly collide.
Food🍔

🍬 Discover the World of Cooked Sugars: Thierry Vial’s Hypnotic Berlingot Recipe in Carpentras 🍭

5 August 2025

🎶 “C’est si bon” and the Sweet Spell of Sugar 🍬

As Thierry stretches glowing ribbons of sugar into shimmering Berlingots, the melody of C’est si bon floats effortlessly in the background. The song’s lyrics—“C’est si bon / De partir n’importe où / Bras dessus, bras dessous / En chantant des chansons”—evoke the same carefree joy and sensory delight that Thierry’s confections inspire. Just as Mireille Mathieu sings of strolling arm in arm, whispering sweet nothings, Thierry’s candies whisper their own stories through color, crunch, and nostalgia.

The rhythm of the song mirrors the rhythm of the workshop: sugar bubbling, hands moving, blades slicing. It’s a dance of tradition and tenderness, where each Berlingot becomes a love letter to French heritage. C’est si bon doesn’t just set the mood—it deepens the experience, turning a visual feast into a full-bodied immersion. Together, the music and the candy create a moment that’s not just delicious—it’s unforgettable.

🎶 🕺🎶🧑‍🤝‍🧑🌄💚👞🎤🍼📼🧠 🔊 C'est si bon - Mireille Mathieu



🍬 The Sugar Alchemist of Carpentras

In the heart of Carpentras, master confectioner Thierry Vial transforms sugar into spectacle. Featured in a captivating Brut media reportage, Thierry invites us into his workshop where tradition, color, and craftsmanship collide. He calls himself one of the “last Gauls of hard candy,” and watching him work is like witnessing a ballet of molten sugar. The process is hypnotic: a glowing ribbon of sugar is stretched, flavored, and striped with vivid hues before being cut into glistening Berlingots—those tiny, translucent candies that crunch with nostalgia and sparkle like edible gems.

🇫🇷 A Sweet Map of France

But Thierry’s Berlingots are just the beginning of a much sweeter story. France is home to a dazzling array of regional confections, each with its own character and charm. In Nancy, the bergamote candy offers a refined citrus tang, elegant and slightly acidic. Montélimar’s nougat, whether soft or crunchy, blends honey and almonds into a timeless treat. Cambrai gave us the Bêtises—minty striped candies born from a happy accident, now beloved across generations. The golden glow of sucre d’orge, the floral whisper of violette from Toulouse, and the herbal intensity of bonbons des Vosges—all contribute to a rich tapestry of French candy-making that spans centuries and terroirs.

🌍 A Tour de France of Sugary Treasures

France’s candy heritage is as rich and diverse as its landscapes. Each region offers a unique confection, steeped in tradition and crafted with care. Thierry’s Berlingots are just one jewel in this glittering crown of regional delights.

🍊 Carpentras and Its Iconic Berlingots
In Provence, the Berlingot reigns supreme. These striped, translucent candies are made by stretching cooked sugar, infusing it with fruit or mint flavors, and slicing it into jewel-like pieces. Thierry Vial’s version is a hypnotic blend of color, crunch, and nostalgia.

🍋 Bergamote de Nancy: Elegant and Acidic
From Lorraine comes the bergamote—a refined hard candy made with bergamot essential oil. Its citrusy, slightly bitter flavor offers a sophisticated twist, often enjoyed as a palate cleanser or a delicate treat with tea.

🍯 Nougat from Montélimar: Soft or Crunchy Delight
In the Rhône-Alpes region, nougat is a beloved classic. Made with honey, almonds, and egg whites, it can be tender and chewy or crisp and brittle. Montélimar’s nougat is internationally renowned and often gifted during holidays.

😜 Bêtises de Cambrai: Sweet Mistakes Turned Marvels
These striped mint candies were born from a confectioner’s error in northern France. The “bêtises,” or “foolishness,” became a hit thanks to their refreshing flavor and caramel twist. Proof that even mistakes can become delicious traditions.

🍭 Sucre d’Orge: Golden Barley Sugar
Sucre d’orge is a golden-hued candy made from barley sugar, often molded into sticks or spirals. Its smooth texture and subtle sweetness make it a nostalgic treat, especially popular during festive seasons.

🌸 Violette de Toulouse: Floral and Refined
In Occitanie, the violet is more than a flower—it’s a flavor. These candies capture the essence of spring with their delicate floral notes, offering a refined and aromatic experience that’s both elegant and unexpected.

🌲 Bonbons des Vosges: Mountain-Flavored Magic
From the forests of the Vosges come herbal candies infused with pine, eucalyptus, and other mountain botanicals. These bonbons are not only delicious but also soothing, often enjoyed for their refreshing and therapeutic qualities.

🎥 A Sensory Performance in Sugar

Watching Thierry craft his Berlingots is like attending a live art show. The sugar glows, stretches, and dances under his hands, becoming a living material shaped by ancestral skill and heartfelt passion. It’s not just candy—it’s culture in motion.

💡 Tempted to Try?

Thierry’s hypnotic recipe invites you to rediscover the magic of cooked sugar. Whether you’re watching the Brut videoor tasting a Berlingot for the first time, you’re entering a world where craftsmanship meets childhood wonder.

#BerlingotMagic 🍭 #FrenchSweets 🇫🇷 #SugarSpectacle 🎥 #ArtisanCandy ✨ #SweetTraditions 🌸

Brainy's Chromatic Cravings

The Flavor Code of Color
Here’s a unique insight that’s not immediately obvious from the article: 🎨 Thierry’s Berlingots are not just candy—they’re coded by color to signal flavor, a tradition rooted in 19th-century apothecaries. Long before modern packaging, confectioners used color as a visual language. In Thierry’s workshop, each stripe and hue isn’t just decorative—it’s a clue. Red might signal strawberry, green for mint, yellow for lemon. This practice dates back to when pharmacists sold medicinal sweets, and color helped customers identify remedies. Thierry’s adherence to this tradition adds a layer of storytelling to every Berlingot—each piece is a tiny, edible archive of sensory history.

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