Eva Paris launches French flavours from Northern Ireland

Eva Paris, a French patiserrie business in Northern Ireland, has launched a range of hand-made macarons that are made with natural ingredients, including multi-award winning Abernethy Butter, and with only natural ingredients.

The flavoured macarons, now being sold by leading delis across Northern Ireland, have been developed by Tracey Jeffery, a French-trained baker and come in 11 flavours - zesty lemon, vanilla bean, chocolate orange, rose, salt caramel coffee, raspberry and while chocolate, raspberry and pistachio, Belgian organic dark chocolate, raspberry, and pistachio.

Mrs Jeffery, a former French teacher, set up her artisan business, Eva Paris, in August 2013 in a development kitchen at Killinchy in county Down, to realise an ambition to create fine French patisserie initially for retail and foodservice in Northern Ireland.

She hopes to develop business in the Republic this year and then to expand to delis in Great Britain.

The macarons are based on experienced gained by Mrs Jeffery working with a leading Maitre de Macarons in a patisserie at Sarlat the Dordogne region in south western France and at a French cookery school in London.

Her luxurious macarons are freshly made by hand and have been influenced by current 'free-from' market trends. "We do not use any flavourings and use only the finest natural ingredients," she says.

"The macarons are gluten-free and the meringue shells are fat-free. I also use Abernethy Butter among just five ingredients to make the macarons. They have a low calorie content and are an alternative for those wishing a delicious treat that is not calorific.

"Northern Ireland has a tremendous reputation in baking original breads, cakes and cookies. We've some incredible breads being produced particularly by artisan bakeries here. What I am focusing on is carrying forward this heritage and adding a new dimension by developing a traditional French delicacy with different and tasty flavours," she adds.

The macarons are supplied for retail in boxes of four. The company also offers mini macarons for foodservice, gifts and wedding favours.