Baking our gluten-free almond macarons

All About Gluten-Free

For several years now, the term "gluten-free" has become familiar to consumers. It’s almost impossible to miss a recipe for gluten-free pie or bread in a magazine, or to walk down a supermarket aisle without seeing the famous crossed-out wheat ear logo on some products. Gluten-free is therefore very much part of daily life, but do you really know what it means?

What is gluten?

First of all, before talking about "gluten-free," you need to understand "gluten." Gluten is a mixture of proteins naturally found in cereal grains like wheat, barley, spelt, etc., and it’s what gives dough its elasticity and binding properties (to help you remember: gluten shares the same root as "glue"). Without it, you can expect crumbly textures or even Estouffe-gari* (we’re from Provence, we can’t help it!).

Who is gluten-free for?

There are two types of people: those who are sensitive to gluten and feel more comfortable reducing their intake; and those who are intolerant, or have celiac disease, who must strictly follow a 100% gluten-free diet to avoid serious health consequences. In numbers, there are currently 5 million regular gluten-free consumers in France (Source: AFP / SIAL 2016), with an estimated at least 600,000 intolerant individuals. (Source: AFDIAG / French Association of Gluten Intolerants)

Over the past 10 years, food companies have raced to produce gluten-free products, mainly replacing wheat flour with other ingredients like rice flour, chestnut flour, or less healthy and cheaper ingredients like guar gum (or guar flour / E412) or xanthan gum (E415), which are thickeners. So be careful, "gluten-free" doesn’t necessarily mean "healthy"; it only means you won’t find cereal-based ingredients, which is why you need to be extra vigilant when reading ingredient lists.

Gluten-free biscuits and cakes at Biscuiterie de Provence

For your information, at Biscuiterie de Provence, we have been naturally gluten-free for over 20 years with recipes free of gluten but incredibly delicious! Because don’t believe that "gluten-free" means "tasteless," especially with us! Rich in almonds, our gluten-free biscuits and cakes, certified with the AFDIAG logo, don’t need "fake gluten" to have an ultra-melting texture and an unbeatable taste!

We hope this has helped you understand the basics of gluten-free; more articles will come to explore the topic further!

*Estouffe-gari: Étouffe-chrétien / Étouffe belle-mère in Provençal