I honestly thought that for something to have “pan” at the end it had to be a drug, but I had completely forgotten about that sweet from our childhood, “marzipan”. Well, Algeria has not forgotten about this devil’s candy, and you will find marzipan fruits throughout Algiers and the country itself.
This shocked me because I honestly thought marzipan no longer existed, or at least not since the 80s. Marzipan fruits though are a huge deal in Algeria and also bloody good. I simply had to find out more.
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Table of Contents
The What and Why of Marzipan Fruits in Algeria
Marzipan fruits are a staple of Algerian sweet shops, often made from ground almonds, sugar, egg whites, and natural flavourings. The sweets are hand-shaped and coloured to represent real fruit, with remarkable attention to detail. They are popular not just as treats but as gifts during festivals, weddings, and special occasions. Beyond the sugar and almonds, some varieties incorporate coconut, pistachio, or peanut flavours, giving them an extra layer of texture and taste.
They occupy a curious position in Algerian life: nostalgic, indulgent, and yet widely accessible. Many Algerians will buy them simply to have a sweet snack with tea, while others treat them as collectibles, displaying them in glass cabinets like tiny edible art pieces. The craftsmanship and history behind them reflect Algeria’s mix of Mediterranean, Berber, and French culinary influences, making marzipan fruits both a street-level delight and a cultural icon.
Range and Price of Marzipan Fruits in Algeria
The range is enormous. You will find everything from miniature oranges, lemons, and apples to exotic coconut, peanut, and even passion fruit replicas. In local sweet shops I paid around 600 DZD per piece, which is roughly $2.55 at the black market rate. Some shops sell boxes with six or twelve pieces, which can be perfect for gifts.
Other products in these sweet shops include biscuits, small almond cakes, and syrups, making them perfect one-stop stops for sugar fiends. Prices for the other products vary, but most are very reasonable, keeping these shops popular with locals and tourists alike.
How Do They Taste?
Honestly, they just look so beautiful that I had to try them on night one, getting three in total. These were an orange, a peanut, and a coconut. The first two pretty much did what they said on the tin and were sweet as hell (heart attack worthy), but had the hint of what they were supposed to represent. The peanut for example was far from overbearing and perfectly balanced.
It was though my last interlude with the coconut that blew me away. On this bad boy they really just hinted at the coconut flavour, with the money maker being the passion fruit floated on top. And Jesus, I just loved it, already ranking this as the best street food in Algiers. Honestly, for $3 you really cannot go wrong.
Best Places to Get Marzipan Fruit in Algiers
Pâtisserie Hamoud
Famous for traditional marzipan, this shop has been making sweets for decades.
Address: 10 Rue Didouche Mourad, Algiers
Phone: +213 21 63 45 67
Maison Chaoui
Beautifully crafted marzipan and other Algerian pastries.
Address: 25 Rue Hassiba Ben Bouali, Algiers
Phone: +213 21 62 34 89
Email: contact@maisonchaoui.dz
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