Brittany - any specialities of the region that make good gifts?

[Tangled Metal]

Basically we're touring for two weeks in Brittany but I have several presents to get as well. I thought getting something portable out there.

For example Devon and Cornwall seem to have some very nice fudge shops. If we were there I could get them in a nicely presented box.

Is there anything that is made in Brittany that would make a good present?

This is completely out of the cycling sphere but I've read enough advice about touring Brittany to know there's enough people who have been there to tap for information.

I really should look into the specialities of the region. I really have no idea. I guess fish looms large but that's typical for all regions with coastline. France as a whole know what to do with fish. But fish isn't going to make a good pressie. I guess wine, biscuits, sweets might. Or hard objects like north Wales and slate gifts, their equivalent of local craft objects.

[Si]

cider and galettes?

[bovlomov]

A hat (Jeremy Corbyn style) or a sweater (Jean Paul Gaultier style).

[geocycle]

Chouchen, a type of mead if you like that kind of honey based drink? There's also a Brittany version of the Normandy Calvados, I recall its called eau de vie or something. Problem is it is so strong you quickly forget your french!

[Cyril Haearn]

Carved love spoons like from Wales?

I would be wary of buying food or drink, it might not survive the journey

Cycling things, models? Picture books? Patriotic Breton textiles?

Would it be politic to try not to talk about the TdF? How good is your French?

You will be able to answer the question better than any of us when you get back

[Bez]

Galettes will disintegrate by the time you get home; crêpes dentelles will disintegrate by the time you get them out of the shop; far breton will perish; kouign amann will survive if well packaged; cider or pommeau will obviously be fine but will be quite heavy; jars of caramel au beurre salé will do the job.

PS as will become clear once you google those, Brittany's speciality (other than crêpes and galettes) is butter

[Tangled Metal]

Not season but I'm guessing artichokes, onions and possibly asparagus. Isn't it onion johnnies in southern Britain another export from Brittany? I think my dad remembers them but he was from Southampton so not surprising.

[Si]

obelisks

[reohn2]

For you least favourite relative's children you could get them each a bombard

[reohn2]

obelisks

And the same to you!

[Cyril Haearn]

Plus One for crepes, I could eat them every day
Do not travel well mind

Should one be careful when chatting to people like in Wales? Or are the Bretons 100% French and proud of it?

Cymru am byth!

[thirdcrank]

obelisks

That had me thinking of Astérix and in particular Tour de Gaul where they go round Gaul in defiance of the roman barricade and bring back local specialities to prove where they've been. Of course, the defiant village besieged by the romans is in Brittany so they don't collect anything from there, but there's a wordplay at the end where Astérix chins the head roman and says that's the local speciality ie châtaigne (chestnut and also slang for a punch.)

The days of bringing home goodies as gifts from remote places have been affected by the ease with which they can be imported. As others have posted, most fresh stuff will suffer in travel. Here's Petit Pâté Breton aux châtaignes which should travel well but as they do mail order, not much to be gained by carting it home.
http://www.boutique-lachikolodenn.com/p ... 2x22025786

[Mick F]

We bought a sleeve of tins of pate when we were there. Maybe half a dozen small tins?
Yum!

[al_yrpal]

Sardines, a selection of tins. The French love speciality tins of sardines. There is an excellent sardine shop on the main drag in Morlaix that sells packs of assorted tins. There are some excellent hills to ascend from Morlaix. Jars of Rilletes du Porc. Jar of Soupe du Poisson. We bought a lovely dinner service of porcelain from a nice shop in St Malo. Lacework is a speciality in Brittany.

[ubert767]

Kouign-amann- bloody wicked!