Mendiant

Mendiant

Four mendiants: pistachio, almond, raisin and candied orange peel
Type	Confectionery
Place of origin	France
Main ingredients	Chocolate, nuts, dried fruits

A mendiant is a traditional French confection composed of a chocolate disk studded with nuts and dried fruits representing the four mendicant or monastic orders. Each of the ingredients used refer to the color of monastic robes. Tradition dictates that raisins stand for the Dominicans, hazelnut for the Augustinians, dried fig for the Franciscans, and almond for the Carmelites.

Usually produced during Christmas, recipes for this confection have veered away from the traditional combination of nuts and fruits to incorporate seeds, fruit peels, and other items.