A speciality of the town of Moret-sur-Loing, barley sugar is one of the oldest boiled sweets in France. Enjoyed for over 300 years, this candy is available as amber-coloured round sweets or translucent sticks.
It was first made in 1638 by nuns in the town, who prepared sweets with cane sugar and barley for medical purposes. They were soon a big hit in the court of Louis XIV, but production stopped in 1792 after the sisters left. Barley sugar production was resumed again under the Second Empire, by the sisters of La Charité de Moret. They made them until 1970, before giving the recipe (which is still a secret today) to a confectioner in the town, Jean Rousseau.
The medieval town of Moret-sur-Loing has a barley sugar museum which is open from March to October. You can explore the museum on your own or on a guided tour, and learn about the history of these delicious treats.