Galette des Rois is France’s traditional King Cake, eaten every January to celebrate Epiphany. Hidden inside this classic French pastry is a tiny fève. And whoever finds it becomes king or queen for the day.
Every January, France goes collectively feral over one simple almond cake: the galette des rois. After filming this video, I fully understand why.
In this video, I visit my favorite bakeries in Uzès to explore the history of this French Epiphany tradition, discover the meaning behind the fève and crown, see different regional styles of galette des rois, and taste my way through several flavors (strictly for research, obviously).
Along the way, I discover:
The French take this King Cake tradition very seriously.
The tiny fève hidden inside carries more symbolic power than you’d expect.
I have been confidently mispronouncing “galette des rois” the entire time. 🤦♀️
Then comes the drama: not one, but TWO fèves find their way to me, meaning I am crowned queen… twice.
In this video you’ll see:
What Galette des Rois is and why it’s eaten during Epiphany
The history and origins of this French food tradition
Behind-the-scenes inside a traditional French bakery
A taste test of classic frangipane, clementine, chocolate, and raspberry galettes
A Galette des Reines celebration in Uzès
What happens when pastry destiny strikes 👑
If you love French food traditions, French pastry culture, slow living in France, and culinary history, subscribe for more stories from life in the South of France.
✨ Merci for watching, and long live the fève.
29 Comments
You really took one (or 6) for the team! 😂😂😂
IOW, galettes des rois tous les jours matin, midi et soir pendant une semaine.🙂
How convenient! The sound didn't record and you had to taste them all 2x! 🙂 😉
It's typically french but when I was a kid in Quebec, we also used to have a Galette des Rois.
J’étais boulanger à Nice dans les années 80 90 et la galette des rois que je vendais le plus c’était la brioche mais excuse moi de te dire qu’elle n’avait rien à voir avec celle que tu a mangé ces une brioche viennoise avec des raisins secs et des fruits confits coupé en tout petit dés macéré dans du rhum avec des zeste d’orange et des zeste de citron jamais de fleurs d’oranger et tu rajoute en fin de cuisson le gros sucre et tu la garnie de fruit confits pour ce qui aime ou sans fruit confit sur Léo dessus voilà la vraie recette
Thank You. Fun
I wondered today how you were doing.
And there you are. 😘
Bonjour Julie
J'espère que vous ne vous serez pas trop embêté par les puristes car mettre la frangipane originale en troisième position seulement, vous risquez d'avoir quelques remarques.
Personnellement ce n'est pas non plus celle que je préfère mais il faut savoir qu'il existe de multiples variantes de la galette des rois suivant les régions. Actuellement là où j'habite il existe aussi la galette à l'anis. Pour ceux qui aiment cette saveur anisée c'est vraiment très bon et très léger.
Avec toutes les vidéos que j'ai pu voir de vous, il est clair que vous aimez beaucoup la bonne nourriture, et comme vous êtes dans la région du sud je ne peux que vous conseillez certaines des spécialités, à moins que vous ne les ayez déjà essayer, et qui ne sont pas particulièrement celles d'uzès, à savoir la Bouillabaisse de Marseille, l'aïoli sur la côte méditerranée et les tielles de Sète. Il est évident que ce ne sont pas des produits à acheter en supermarché. La Tielle notamment, fabriquée autour de Sète est incomparablement bien meilleure que celles que l'on trouve dans les magasins. Et pour apprécier au mieux la bouillabaisse, éviter si possible les restaurants sur le port de Marseille, trop touristiques et pouvant manquer d'authenticités. J'ai vu que vous appréciez la brandade, pareil que pour les tielles, elle est bien meilleure fabrication maison que celles des magasins.
Bonne future dégustation et j'espère que vous pourrez aussi en faire profiter vos futures invitées lors de vos prochaines retraites…
How do u not gain weight?!
Thank you for your service !
It's true, I have been king a few times during my youth …. But my sisters more often were queens. Btw soon starts the season for crepes and it's called la Chandeleur. We don't stop eating, no way.
Thanks for showing us all the different types of galettes. I had previously only seen the traditional ones. However, I’m trying to lose weight, and this video really made me extra hungry.
I think your angels or the angels of the galette made the microphone fail so you would have to eat them all over again, LOL! 😋😋😋
What a sacrifice for us to try all this galette . Thinks a lot queen Julie😂.
Hi, French republican here (in the truest sense of the word, not the American sense).
With this title, you're touching on a sensitive subject for the French.
For obvious historical reasons, we have an aversion to the nobility.
For example, the Epiphany cake given to the President of the French Republic doesn't contain a bean, to clearly show that there is no king at the Élysée Palace.
The youngest goes under the table!
My favorite : nothing inside, juste butter.
I'm an old man and when I was a kid, there were only two kinds of Galette: the plain one, just like a croissant, and the frangipane one, more expensive, the Deluxe galette.
Also the queen or king was supposed to choose their own king, or queen. who they'd crown with their own crown.Thus my mum always ended up being queen, for since I was the youngest, I'd most of the times be king and crown my mum. That's what kid do, don't they?
Fève = charm in English. I love galette des rois ; even here in Dubai I eat some. Yummy 😋
Je n’aime que la frangipane 😊
Sorry about the mic issues but seeing the review as a silent film was hilarious and I could totally tell you loved the chocolate (even with no words). They look so tasty and thank you for sharing that it is des rois…never thought about it being plural (you learn something new all the time). I know I am with everyone else who appreciates you tasting these choices at least twice…it's a tough job but someone has to live in France and do it. Have a great day and until next time
A fantastic video with delicious information and a special happy beautiful energy. You look lovely and radiant, filled with your jovial and youthful spirit. You are very pretty!💞 I love Uzes, it is one of my favorite towns in France. Have you visited already Saint Quentin la Poterie to the North and also La Roque-sur-Cèze? You will certainly enjoy them. You are doing a great job!💯
All hail the Queen! 🥮 any reason for cake is a good tradition! 😋
i always buy the traditional galette des rois but the prices are so different i paid $65.00 for my galette but this is in usa enjoy i love my galette and i get it every year thank you for sharing with us the different kind merci
They look sooooo good!!!!!!! 🤤🤤 I love the tradition of sharing the galettes with family and friends. 👑🍷
Bonjour, en ce qui me concerne la seule authentique est la galette frangipane !
One day i make one for 12 childs. And there was with 12 fèves inside ( my son ask it to do a joke).
A fun topic! Thanks for sharing
super tradition
Oh wow! You speak French so well!
You also look a little bit French, maybe some ancestors?
I am a French citizen but have never lived there. But the longing is strong!
I grew up in Germany and spent the past decades in Norway. I really hope to move to the south of France in a few years or so.
Need an online career.
You are living my dream and I can’t get enough of your channel❤🥰