French apple brandy, Calvados, arrives in India via Goa
Jan 25, 2007 - 11:23:55 PM
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'Another literary feather in our cap,' adds Christian Drouin, 'the great Pappa Hemingway, when in France, always carried a flask of calvados on him... never an empty one'.
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By IANS,
[RxPG] Raia -, Jan 25 - World's premier apple brandy, Calvados, will soon be available in India after an agreement reached here Thursday between the Tonia Agencies of Goa, India, and the Calvados Christian Drouin Blends of Normandy, France.
The Tonia Agencies will act as the sole agents, importers and distributors of the Christian Drouin brands in India.
Speaking exclusively with IANS here, Mario da Sequeira, president of the Tonia agencies that produce their own brands of wines and spirits, said: 'We are very pleased and proud to tie up with the distinguished Christian Drouin Blends.
'We are confident that they will titillate the Indian palates and hearts as they have done the world over.'
Monsieur Christian Drouin, owner and manufacturer of the reputed French brandies, who is in India expressly for the purpose of incepting his products into India via Goa, said: 'It is a milestone breakthrough for us to have reached the fabulous Indian table. It is the very first time that a Calvados is being imported into India. We do not hesitate to predict a great success for our products here. Our experience in this field, worldwide, lends us unstinted, albeit realistic, optimism.'
Wilfred de Sousa, the deputy chief minister and the minister of tourism in Goa, enthused: 'I have on occasion tasted, and very much enjoyed, Calvados whilst travelling abroad and it gladdens me that it has arrived in India. It can only further enrich our diverse menu. It further gladdens my heart that Calvados enters India through Goa.'
Calvados can only be produced in the region in France that is specified for the 'appellation' of Calvados: Normandy.
Explains Christian Drouin: 'In France, Calvados is as successful as Cognac, but exports started only recently. In 1978 only 18 percent of total production was exported. Today it is more than 50 percent and, steadily growing.'
Calvados is produced by distilling apple and pear ciders and has to be aged in oak casks for at least two years. It is one of the most versatile spirits. A good calvados is complex: it should be reminiscent of apples and pears, balanced with flavours of aging under the influence of the oak.
The traditional way to enjoy calvados is after dinner as a digestive. It can also be served as an aperitif, on the rocks or blended in drinks, between meals, after dinner with coffee, cigar or both.
Calvados is also a perfect complement for many culinary creations - many of the Norman chefs opt to flavour their dishes with Calvados.
Says the French distiller: Christian Drouin Calvados is produced in the best appellation -: Pays d'Auge. It is often quoted as the world's finest calvados and has been awarded over 400 medals and honor prizes in various national and international competitions, of them 124 gold medals.
The celebrated Belgian writer, Georges Simeon has charmingly contributed to the to the worldwide legend of calvados in his numerous detective novels. His protagonist, Inspector Maigret, always favours calvados and partakes of it copiously.
'Another literary feather in our cap,' adds Christian Drouin, 'the great Pappa Hemingway, when in France, always carried a flask of calvados on him... never an empty one'.
A parting word of praise for Calvados is granted by India's artist emeritus, Mario da Miranda: 'Calvados has, to date, left the India bar incomplete. It is one of the greatest drinks in the pantheon of great spirits, equally soothing and stimulating to both, men and women.'
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