Suisse de Valence

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Suisse de Valence is a traditional cookie that is shaped like a man. Its design (and the name, because Suisse means Swiss ) was inspired by the uniforms worn by Pope Pius VI's Swiss guards. The Pope himself was a prisoner in Valence in 1799, where he had also died. The cookie is made with shortbread that is flavored with orange blossom and contains tiny pieces of candied orange peel. It has a hat, a mustache, raisins that are used as buttons on the uniform, and coffee beans that are used as its eyes. Suisse de Valence is most commonly enjoyed with a cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream on the side.