Of all the wonderful confections available throughout the world, pates de fruit are widely recognized as one of the best. Pates de fruit are sophisticated candies, usually found through high-end chocolatiers and specialty gourmet food stores. They are bite-sized pieces of fruit jellies sanded with crystallized sugar. Although they may not sound like much, the process for making pates de fruit is quite intricate, using only the best, typically unsweetened, purest fruit purees.

Pates de fruit translates from French to “fruit paste,” and considerable time is dedicated to making the paste. Some recipes call for the use of fruit preserves, others, syrups and jellies. If using fresh fruit, you will have to puree it first into liquid form. The fruit puree is heated in order to thicken, then processed until smooth. Warm liquid gelatin is added to the puree, which turns it into a thick fruit paste - the pates de fruit. The pates de fruit is then spread into large jelly pans to cool. As soon as the paste is cooled, the jelly pans are inverted, and the solidified paste is cut into cubes.

Retail confectioners and pastry chefs use specialty sanding sugars to coat the sticky pates de fruit. Sanding sugars adhere well, but can be very expensive. Common table sugar, also known as granulated sugar, is sometimes used.

Biting into these confections can be surprising at first. In one bite comes a powerful force of fruit, citric acids, and fruit juice all at once. Pates de fruit are chewy in texture and combine the sweet and sour flavors of natural fruit juice. Those who love gummy candies will be overjoyed with what can be called their “adult version,” as pates de fruit can be made from natural fruit and robust citric flavorings. Popular varieties of pates de fruit include mango, passion fruit, quince, blackberry, pear, and pineapple.

Due to the cost of ingredients as well as the time needed to prepare pates de fruit, they can be relatively expensive candies. A small box averages in price between $7 to $12 US Dollars (USD), and higher quality retailers may sell them for as much as $25 USD a box. During the winter holiday months, the candies are in highest demand.

Pates de fruit typically do not have a long shelf life, and must typically be consumed within a week. However, people who enjoy pates de fruit don’t worry about shelf life, as most are eaten and enjoyed as soon as they are purchased.