By Scott Tiffney
On Oct. 7, France’s postal service, La Poste, issued a stamp honoring the croissant, a crisp golden pastry found in many of the country’s neighborhood bakeries and an iconic symbol of French gastronomy.
A croissant is illustrated in the center of the stamp against a white background with the title “Croissant au beurre” (butter croissant) in a light brown, childlike font in the upper right corner. The €2.10 denomination is in the lower right corner. The stamp, designed by Frederique Vernillet from a stock photograph, pays the international rate for sending letters weighing up to 20 grams.
Like the olfactory France Baguette stamp (Scott 6631) issued May 16, 2024, the new Croissant stamp is scented, mimicking the pastry’s fresh-baked aroma.
Believed to be a variation of the Austrian kipferl pastry, croissants are named for the way that the dough rises when baked, derived from a variation of the French verb “croitre,” which means “to grow.”
To create the croissant’s signature flakiness, yeast-leavened dough is first coated with butter then rolled and folded several times in succession. The dough is then rolled into a thin sheet, a technique called laminating.
This process results in a layered, flaky texture, similar to a puff pastry. The dough is then carefully kneaded, shaped, fermented and finally baked to a golden finish.
In France, for breakfast or lunch, the airy pastry is generally sold without filling and enjoyed without added butter. However, a croissant sometimes can include an almond filling. In the United States, sweet fillings or fruity toppings are common additions, while for more of a meal the pastry may be filled with ham and cheese, or feta cheese and spinach.
La Poste’s security printer Philapostein printed the Croissant stamp by rotogravure in panes of 15, with each stamp measuring 40.85 millimeters by 30mm. In the selvage of the pane bits and pieces of an unfinished croissant are illustrated, emphasizing the pastry’s buttery flakiness.
La Poste is offering other products with the new issue. For ordering details, visit La Poste online at www.laposte.fr.
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Dining and Cooking