Mentchikoff is a treat created in 1893 by a confectioner from Chartres named Daumesnil. It is a tribute to the Franco-Russian alliance, freshly signed at the time,whichcreated great euphoria throughout France. This sweet therefore takes its name from Prince Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, a former confidant of Tsar Peter the Great.
Mentchikoff is a white sweet made of praline chocolate with a thin coating made from icing sugar with vanilla, known as Swiss meringue. Each piece is hand-rolled. The chocolate centre made from hazelnut praline, butter and cocoa is deservedly popular. These sweets are then packaged traditionally in boxes in the colours of the famous Cathedral of Chartres. Crispy on top and meltingly soft inside, Mentchikoff is a popular treat with coffee or tea.