Négus de Nevers

The Négus—Ménélik, the emperor of Abyssinia, great uncle of Ethiopia’s Haile Selassie—came to France in 1902 and visited Nevers. He inspired local confiseurs Messieurs Grelier et Lyron, who were in the habit of inventing a new bonbon every year, to create one to commemorate his visit.

Made of soft chocolate or coffee caramel coated in a hard candy coating, sold in round metal tins to preserve their contrasting textures, Négus caramels have been associated with the town ever since.

The Maison Grelier & Lyron has since been renamed Au Négus, a must stop in Nevers for anyone with a sweet tooth (they also make Nevers’ famous nougatines).