Give a surprise of delicious treats from France! The pretty tin box holds the pruneaux d'Agen fourrés, which are prunes that have been pitted and stuffed with prune paste. These exquisite specialties from the town of Agen in southwestern France are simply unique and can been enjoyed on any occasion. (21.52 oz)

Along the Garonne River in the south west region of France is a small town by the name of Agen. Famously considered in France to be the capital of the prune, Agen can trace the prune's history all the way back to its introduction to France. But it is first to the crusades that we owe the birth of the Pruneau d'Agen. Plums were discovered in Damas, Syria, and the crusaders came back with them to Occident. As early as the 12th century, wild plum trees were cultivated in monasteries and abbeys in the South West of France. Very early on, the plums of Damas were dried in the sun and domesticated plum trees were grafted. The dried plum therefore became prune. As early as the 16th century, confectioners used the dried fruit to make the “pruneau fourré”, stuffing it with almond paste and plum paste. In the 17th century, it was mentioned as a remedy in “Le Malade Imaginaire” (The Imaginary Invalid), a play by Molière (1622-1673), the famous French playwright and actor who completely reformed French comedy. In this play, which turned out to be his last one, Molière acted as the hypochondriac Argan and was seized onstage by a coughing fit and died a few hours later.