It’s a bone of contention in the food fraternity which is more correct: macaroon or macaron. We think the ‘oo’ variation is slightly more fitting, but let’s be honest, a rose macaroon by any other name would taste as sweet.

The French – obviously – were the ones to perfect the idea of two meringue-like moons delicately glued together with chocolate ganache or butter-cream filling. The confectionary as we know it today was created in the early 1900s in Paris, but many countries, even the notoriously neutral Swiss, favour their own variations in texture, sweetness and consistency.

And while many in South Africa may be partial to familiar favourites like pistachio and vanilla, some local bakers are coming up with game-changing flavours such as peppermint crisp tart, Amarula and caramelised white chocolate, pina colada and rooibos.

In the interests of thorough research, we feel it’s imperative to try them all. Here’s our pick of where to start in your city.

Johannesburg

Bread Basket
Order from a choice of eight flavours, including lemon, vanilla, coffee and strawberry.
Price: R220 per kilo.

Chocola J
Choose from flavours such as chocolate, salted caramel, white chocolate chai, orange, pistachio, blueberry, strawberry, Earl Grey and vanilla pecan praline.
Price: R8 each.

Koljander
Flavours include coconut, cherry and coffee.
Price: R24.25 per pack of 10.

Lazeeza’s Bakery and Confectionary
Buy a range of chocolate ganache macaroons from Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent as well as Lazeeza’s own red velvet macaroons with cream cheese filling. Also get pistachio burfee macaroon – a fusion of the Indian sweetmeat with traditional Parisian macaroon.
Price: R90 for a box of 10. (Also see Lazeeza’s Confectionary and Deli in Lakeside Mall in Benoni)

Le Petit Bon Bon
Select from a wide variety of flavours such as strawberry, blueberry, Ferrero Rocher, lemon, red velvet and liquorice.
Price: R6 each.

Lila’s French Cooking
Order macaroons in flavours such as caramel and salted butter; pistachio; pistachio and raspberry; blackcurrant; lemon and basil; strawberry and white couverture chocolate; rose and coconut and white couverture chocolate from this caterer and cooking class teacher.
Price: R130 for 12; R25 for large macaroons.

Moemas
Coffee, chocolate, and vanilla flavoured macaroons are usually available, but ask for raspberry and pistachio, too.
Price: R7 each.

Petits Fours in Blackheath
Choose from flavours such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The store also makes a wide variety of exotic flavours such as lavender, rose, noisette and liqueur. Order ahead if you’ve got something specific in mind.
Price: R120 for a box of 12.

Tasha’s Hyde Park Corner
A range of flavours are available here every day, from pistachio to salted butter caramel; coconut; rose; chocolate and naartjie and Nutella.
Price: R12 each

The Patisserie
Stock up on chocolate, coffee, caramel, vanilla, lavender, pistachio, granadilla, orange and coconut macaroons.
Price: R10 each

Pretoria

Isabella’s (Groenkloof)
Eat them in this restaurant or buy them to take them away. Flavours vary but may include the likes of ginger and orange blossom; lime and basil; dark chocolate and marzipan; salted butter caramel; chilli chocolate; and Nutella.
Price: R10 each

Isabella’s (Waterkloof)
A variety of flavours are available to eat in or out at this coffee shop, including the likes of rose and Morello cherry, pistachio, ginger and orange blossom and Nutella.
Price: R10

Lepis D’Ore
Choose from flavours such as vanilla, passion fruit, coffee and rose.
Price: R10 each.

Let Them Eat Cake
Caterer Angelique Lingenfelder sells macaroons in vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, passion fruit, coffee, hazelnut, lemon, rose and berry flavours at the Hazel Food Market on Saturdays. You can also order from her for your special occasion.
Price: R10 each.

Mythos (Brooklyn Design Square)
A wide variety of flavours are available.
Price: 10 each

Nicole’s Macaroons
Nicole’s Macaroons makes handcrafted traditional Parisian macaroons using fresh, quality ingredients like real Belgium chocolate. There are 25 flavours to choose from and the most popular include Salted Butter Caramel, Nutella, Pistachio, Rose Essence, Coconut, Hazelnut cream and Vanilla & Blueberry.
Price: R10.50 each.

Durban

Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent
Daniela Dotan makes over 30 different flavours of macaroons to order, a wide variety of which are available each day. Try the chocolate ganache-filled macaroons in flavours like chocolate; vanilla; strawberry; pecan caramel; lemon; peanut butter and Maldon salt; coconut; champagne and vanilla; red velvet; chai; mocha; cassis; and blueberry. There’s also a new range of butter-cream macaroons; flavours change each week but may include the likes of orange cream, peppermint crisp, liquorice, or fig and vanilla.
Price: R12.50 for each chocolate ganache macaroon, or R120 for a box of 12. R7 for those with butter-cream. (Also visit Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent in Umhlanga)

Petits Fours in Durban North
Order ahead for macaroons of a variety of flavours.

Cape Town

Daniela’s Deliciously Decadent
Daniela Dotan makes over 30 different flavours of macaroons to order, a wide variety of which are available each day. Try the chocolate ganache filled macaroons in flavours like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, pecan caramel, lemon, peanut butter and Maldon salt, coconut, champagne and vanilla, red velvet, chai, mocha, cassis and blueberry. There’s also a new range of butter-cream macaroons; flavours change each week but may include the likes of orange cream, peppermint crisp, liquorice or fig and vanilla.
Price: R12.50 per chocolate ganache macaroon, or R120 for a box of 12. R7 each for butter-cream macaroons.

Cassis Paris
Sample macaroons in chocolate, coffee, pistachio, raspberry, vanilla, coconut, blackcurrant, caramel, and chocolate-caramel flavours.
Price: R6 each. (Also see stores in Newlands and Gardens.)

Chocolate Moose
Macaroons are made to order in flavours like chocolate, hazelnut. Phone ahead to get a quote.

City Bowl Market on Hope?
Look out for macaroons by Swoon Treats which will amaze you in flavours such as peppermint crisp tart; passion fruit and basil; pina colada and carrot cake; as well as the usual chocolate, peanut butter, pistachio and so on. They are available at the Saturday market from 9am to 2pm.
Price: R10 each.

Emporio Leone (V&A Waterfront)
Buy macaroons singly or in gift boxes with the following flavours: hazelnut praline, Madagascan vanilla bean, intense dark chocolate, pistachio, espresso, raspberry, blueberry, choc-orange and maple and pecan.
Price: R8.50 each.

Lindt Chocolate Studio
Order chocolate, coffee, coconut, mint, orange, blueberry or cranberry-flavoured macaroons, each filled with chocolate ganache made from the corresponding Lindt Excellence range.
Price: R8 each.

Little Miss Cupcake
Buy macaroons with white chocolate ganache based-fillings at the Hout Bay Market. (Though not the weekend of 8-9 June 2012.) The flagship flavour is white chocolate and Amarula. Others include white chocolate and rose water; Lindt dark chocolate and orange; and white chocolate and raspberry.
Price: R6 each or four for R20.

Melissa’s The Food Shop (Stellenbosch)
The macaroons are delivered once a week and sell like hot-cakes so get there early or phone ahead for chilli choc, vanilla, lemongrass, rose, lavender caramel and orange flavours.
Price: R32.95 per pack of six.

Myatt Café and Chocolatier
Enjoy your macaroons with a cup of artisan tea in this dramatic Waterfront coffee shop, or pick up a box to go. Flavours vary, but can include praline, coffee, blueberry, caramel, chocolate cherry, chocolate, coconut, pina colada, honey and saffron, rose, mocha, passion fruit, hazelnut, pistachio, vanilla, strawberry and lemon.
Price: R8.50 for one, or three for R25.

Neighbourgoods Market?
Find Martin Senekal’s stall on your left against the wall as you enter the food section. He does flavours such as peanut butter, pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, raspberry, rose, blueberry, passion fruit, lemon, gooseberry and orange. The market is on from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Price: R6 each.

Petits Fours (Blouberg)
Macaroons can be made to order. Phone for a quote.

Yummi
Eric Labuschagne makes wheat- and gluten-free macaroons in the following flavours: salted butter caramel chocolate; caramelised white choc and Amarula; red velvet; rooibos and white choc; vanilla, black cherry and dark chocolate; and coffee crème brûlée. (No colourants and only natural flavourants are used.) The macaroons are also available at the Stellenbosch Slowmarket.

By Linda Scarborough and Katharine Jacobs