Great foodie treats for under £2: La Perruche sugar cubes
Comments(13)
Photo: La Perruche cane sugar cubes
Shopping with my mum in Waitrose she asked me to show her anything that would be appreciated in a Christmas stocking.
We were passing the sugar section at the time and my eye fell upon the boxes of La Perruche pure cane rough cut cubes. Waitrose is the only supermarket that stocks these superb French sugar cubes. As they cost £1.69 for 500g they are a luxury that we haven’t bought for years. But as an occasional treat they are wonderful dropped into a cup of fresh black coffee or a large mug of tea.
The packaging is delightful. With parrot covered paper, just below the lid, covering the cubes. The cubes feel good in the hand too and as they are not of a uniform size you can select the perfect one for a cup, mug or even a thermos.
By the time Christmas arrived I’d forgotten all about the box and was delighted to find it in my stocking. For sugar lovers they are great present and will give enormous pleasure and add a luxurious sparkle to endless drinks for under £2.
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I love the rough cut sugar cubes too, they have a touch of elegance (I think) and make a cup of tea something a little more special.
Have you ever tried adding some brown sugar to your coffee? You have to be a little cautious at first, since I think its sweeter than white sugar, but it gives coffee a depth that is really nice.
Ohhhh Now I am just going to have to try this just because you say it is good. I took your advice before on some spices and I really love those.
I like the idea of these sugar cubes – especially the packaging and for the fact they are French – but i’m afraid they would sit in the cupboard for about 10 years before I finally threw them out. I never sweeten anything and visitors have to ask for sugar as it never crosses my mind to offer. The last bag of sugar I bought was from Sainsbury’s and I haven’t lived anywhere near a Sainsbury’s for 5 years now. I know I hadn’t bought it shortly before moving so I’m guessing it is probably about 8 years old and still not empty. I do use sugar when I bake but I don’t even do that very often these days although Banana Cake is on the list of things to do this afternoon to take to dinner for dessert tonight.
Like Pamela, I only use sugar for baking. (for plumber’s and tree surgeon’s tea and coffee I have to rummage around for the golden caster in the store cupboard).
The packaging’s really cute, so my hand would hover near them for a second before coming to my senses and saying ‘but, why?’. Suppose I could give it as a present for someone with a sweet tooth
Celia
It took me ages to find the sugar cubes like you get in restaurants – I very rarely sweeten drinks and only ever with these. I use them mainly for espresso coffee or hot chocolate. I bought mine in a local deli but will look out for them in Waitrose. Apparently we are shortly getting one in nearby Holsworthy!!
I like to drink my drinks properly hot. I used to have these from time to time when I was living in France but by the time they had dissolved I found that my drink was too cold! Nice box though
Brown sugar is a must for coffee- especially those little chunks that look like pebbles- not seen them on sale anywhere for years.
Pamela, I don’t think you’d need to worry with these – I don’t take sugar in tea or coffee since giving it up for Lent as a determined 7-year-old so the boxes of La Perruche in our cupboards stay there for a VERY long time – and are absolutely fine when we do use them. Jane is right to say they take a long time to dissolve though – ours take even longer than most as they are partially fossilised…
Wouldn’t be without them though – I saw them in Waitrose for the first time last week (ours are Parisien) so nice to know that if we have an influx of sweet-toothed coffee drinkers we have a more local source of replacement!
Just bought a new box of icing sugar – had a bit of a baking fest, 2 cakes in 2 days! – and noticed that it said that sugar keeps indefinitely so I guess we can all safely buy these sugar lumps just cos they look nice! However, I still can’t justify buying them as I know I would never use them nor can I think of anyone to give them to as a gift who might use them.
I’ve found that as I’ve got older I’ve got less and less keen on sweet things, I was never a big fan of sweet, but now even home-made jam is too sweet!Chutney is a different matter though.
Hello Michelle
I only use brown sugar – in tea and coffee. Most people who are subjected to this really like it, particularly as you say, in coffee.
The cubes are ‘elegant’. Special treats.
Hi Pat
I love these and because of the parrot inner paper, it seems like opening a present every time.
Hello Pamela
Banana cake sounds so tempting.
I like sugar in my drinks. D doesn’t but he’s addicted to milk chocolate bars. I always buy good sugar (light muscovado or Tate and Lyles soft brown sugar). There’s nothing like a cup of sweet, strong tea when everything is crashing around your ears.
BTW a client mentioned today how much she had enjoyed the Simon’s Cats cartoons. Thank you so much for sending me the link and spreading the fun.
Hello Magic Cochin
If you know that someone likes sugar these are a great present. They come in white too!
Isn’t it funny that most tradesmen take sugar (including me). Perhaps it has something to do with quick fix energy levels?
Hi Carol
I was born in Devon and my brother went to school near Holsworthy! It’s a beautiful county and I have many happy memories of living there on and off during my childhood.
Waitrose is starting to really compete with the cheaper supermarkets now. We shop at a handful each week to skim the best offers from each one. I reckon that the cubes will be cheaper at Waitrose as they’d have more buying clout than the local deli.
Hi Jane
I wish that I could drink my drinks really hot but prefer them five minutes after they have been brewed and quite enjoy them cold! So the cubes are fine for me. But they do need to be stirred well at the outset otherwise there is a nasty sugar layer at the bottom of a drained cup.
HI Kate(uk)
I’ve never seen the pebble sugar. But I do live most of my life beyond the fringes. I used to like the sugar gravel (society grits?) that my aunt used to feed to her pekes as a mini treat after supper. They took forever to dissolve in coffee but were very pretty.
Hi Jane
Good on you for stocking the best sugar in your larder for us sugar lovers!
Hello Pamela
I just posted this because if you like sugar in drinks this is the best sugar that I’ve found. No need to buy it but one day you might find someone who would appreciate the present.
Hi Kate
I know what you mean. But there is sweet and sweet. I hate cheap sweet and prefer savoury every time but I do like sugar in my drinks. Thanks for your comments, always appreciated.
Hi Fiona,
I forget sometimes, what I call something isn’t nessaraly what folks other places call it. When I asked if you use brown sugar, I had meant the loose brown sugar that you use for baking, not the darker unrefined rough cut sugar cubes. (I hadn’t realized that some of the rough cubes had different colors.) The full molasses brown sugar makes coffee so rich, quite yummy.
After I read the rest of the replies, I thought I had better clarify.
These are also my favorite sugar cubes, but in my area they are around $9 a box! Needless to say They are not a weekly purchase. Was just in France and bought a couple, but will def stock up the next time I’m in the UK. Yet another reason to go to Waitrose – like I need one! Thanks for sharing!