A gold ingot in a king cake: gold as a bean

In France, we eat the galette des rois for Epiphany, celebrated on January 6. The origin of this festival dates back to the beginning of our era, when the wise men came to visit Jesus in Bethlehem. So, every year, it is customary to share the cake, and the one who discovers the bean becomes the king or queen of the moment.

However, sharing the cake has its source in an old Roman tradition. The Saturnalia festival, in homage to the god of time, brought together all the Romans, but also the slaves. During this day, everyone shared the cake, and if a slave pulled the bean, he could then ask for any favors he wanted for an entire day.

In the Middle Ages, the bean was replaced by a porcelain bean. In fact, several guests ate the bean so as not to pay a general round. Then, in the mid-20th century, the plastic bean appeared.

Nowadays, we find frangipane pancakes in pastry bakeries throughout the Epiphany period. So, you can enjoy a gourmet break with friends or family, and depending on the region, you can taste frangipane, brioche with candied fruit, epogne or garfou, and many other local specialties in sale.

During this period of Epiphany, the news of the pancake is turning towards the North. Indeed, certain pancakes are more coveted than others in Pas-de-Calais. This is the case of those of Alexandre, a baker, who placed a small gold ingot weighing 5 grams in one of his cakes for sale.

To succeed in this operation, he worked in collaboration with a gold specialist in his region, who provided him with the ingot, and therefore allowed him to create a cake with a gold bean.

He had this idea during a family discussion. He then thought of putting a golden Louis instead of the traditional bean. Then, along the way, Alexandre turned to the ingot. The information was picked up by local news, and a video allows you to appreciate the approach and operation of this craftsman.

In Belgium, a bakery in Saint-Gilles also offered its customers a wide choice of special pancakes. The beans have, for their part, been replaced by 18-carat gold pieces, marked with the logo of this Belgian company.

The bakers and pastry chefs who cook galettes des rois with a gold ingot promise an exceptional gift at the start of the year. Indeed, in Calais, the gold ingot hidden by a baker in the galette des rois weighs 5 grams, or a value of around 250 euros.

So, in addition to tasting a local product, you have the opportunity to discover an ingot in one of the bakery's pancakes. These gold beans in Calais therefore represent the opportunity to start your investment in bullion.

On the other hand, the gold ingot bean (worth 250 euros) goes back to the origins of Epiphany, when the wise men brought mire, incense and gold. The taste, scent and golden bean of the cake immerse you directly in the traditions. 

At Gold Union you will find a wide choice of bars, louis and gold bars, of all sizes and weights. Gold Union France experts are waiting for you in an agency, in the North or elsewhere, or via our e-commerce site to discuss your projects and your investment objectives.