Harper West
Breakfast is considered an important meal in France, but it is usually a simple affair. It can be as simple as a cup of coffee with a croissant or beignet (a deep-fried pastry similar to a doughnut) or as elaborate as eggs and bacon with toast, jam and cereal. In most homes and small cafes, French breakfast consists of bread or brioche sweetened bread with butter, jam or honey, accompanied by coffee (hot chocolate for children) or tea. A traditional French breakfast is built around the star of French breads: the baguette, fresh from the oven or lightly toasted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | From 6 am in hotels and 7:30 am in cafes, lasting until 11 am |
| Food | Bread, brioche, butter, jam, honey, Nutella, croissants, beignets, eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, fruit juice, fruit salad, charcuterie, yoghurt, muesli, crepes, pastries, pain au chocolat, coffee, tea, hot chocolate |
| Drink | Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fruit juice |
| Occasion | Weekends, holidays, special occasions |
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Bread, butter, jam and coffee
A traditional French breakfast, or 'petit dejeuner' (which translates to 'little lunch'), is a simple affair, typically consisting of bread, butter, jam, and coffee. While the English breakfast is a heavy meal, the French prefer something lighter to start their day.
The bread is usually a baguette, either fresh or lightly toasted, with butter, which can be unsalted (doux) or salted (salé). The French enjoy a variety of jams, with the most popular being berries, marmalade, and honey. However, there is room for individuality, with other options like quince jelly or sour orange marmalade. Buttered bread with jam is called a "tartine", and it is common to dip or dunk the bread into the coffee.
Coffee was introduced to France from Turkey and became popular after it conquered the court of Louis XVI. While tea is also consumed, it is usually drunk straight, without milk, unlike the English style.
In Paris, the butter croissant is iconic, and it is common to grab one from a boulangerie on the way to work or before getting on the train. However, croissants are not typically eaten every morning, and many people opt for a simpler breakfast of bread, butter, jam, and coffee.
Breakfast is an important institution in France, with cafes serving it from 7:30 am and hotels starting even earlier at 6 am. It is a time to gather and start the day on the right note, and many French people view it as the most important meal of the day.
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Pastries
Another popular pastry is the pain au chocolat, a type of croissant with chocolate in it. This pastry is so popular that it was recently named one of the top 10 best breakfasts globally. Other pastries that are commonly enjoyed at breakfast include beignets (deep-fried pastries similar to doughnuts), brioche (sweetened bread), and crêpes.
In addition to these pastries, the French also enjoy various types of bread at breakfast, such as baguettes and toast. The baguette, in particular, is considered the star of French breads and can be enjoyed fresh from the oven or lightly toasted. It is often served as a tartine, which is a slice of baguette with butter and jam.
While pastries and bread are a common part of the French breakfast, it is worth noting that they are not necessarily eaten every day. In fact, many French people only indulge in pastries on weekends or when they are on the go and need to grab breakfast quickly.
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Fruit juice
Freshly squeezed orange juice, or jus frais pressée, is a typical breakfast drink in France. It is often served alongside other morning staples such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, and a variety of pastries or breads. Fruit juice is also commonly consumed by children, who may also have cereal, as the habit of drinking juice in the morning is becoming increasingly common among adults.
While the traditional French breakfast is built around the iconic baguette, fresh from the oven or lightly toasted, the meal is often accompanied by fruit juice, as well as other sweet treats such as pastries, croissants, or pain au chocolat. The French are known for their sweet tooth, and their breakfasts reflect this, with an emphasis on sweet spreads, jams, and chocolate.
In addition to orange juice, grapefruit juice is also enjoyed in France. While tea is consumed, the French differ from the English in their preference for drinking it without milk. Breakfast in France is typically a light meal, and fruit juice is often included as a refreshing and healthy option to accompany the more indulgent pastries and breads.
The French breakfast has evolved over time, with the term "breakfast" only coming into use in the 19th century. In modern times, the meal is usually served from 7:30 am in cafes and 6 am in hotels, lasting until 11 am. While the traditional French breakfast remains a staple, the country has also embraced the concept of brunch, with French cafes offering a variety of breakfast and brunch options, including fruit juices, to suit different tastes and preferences.
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Cereal
While the traditional French breakfast is often centred around the baguette, cereal is also a common breakfast food in France. Cereal is especially popular among children, and the habit is becoming more common among adults.
In France, breakfast is traditionally a simple meal, and many people will grab a pastry on their way to work. However, it is considered an important meal, and people will often meet for breakfast in cafes, where it is usually served from 7:30 am.
The traditional French breakfast is built around bread, and cereals such as muesli are a modern alternative to the more traditional tartine, a slice of baguette with butter and jam.
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Breakfast in Paris
The French do enjoy their pastries, and the croissant is a staple, often eaten with butter, jam, or chocolate spread. The French also consume more Nutella than any other country, and this is a popular spread on bread or pastries for breakfast. In Paris, the butter croissant is a must-try. The pain au chocolat is another famous French breakfast pastry, consisting of buttery laminated dough filled with chocolate.
Freshly baked baguettes are also a key part of the traditional French breakfast, served with butter and jam, or on their own with a spread of butter. A tartine is a slice of baguette, cut lengthwise, with butter and jam, and this is a common breakfast choice. Fruit is also sometimes included, and orange juice is a popular drink.
For those with a bigger appetite, a full French breakfast might include eggs, bacon, and toast, with preserves and jam, and perhaps some fried mushrooms and roasted tomatoes. This is more likely to be enjoyed at the weekend when there is more time to indulge.
Breakfast is usually served from 7:30 am in cafes and 6 am in hotels, lasting until 11 am, so there is plenty of time to enjoy this important meal in Paris.
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Frequently asked questions
A traditional French breakfast is usually a simple affair, consisting of a hot drink such as coffee or tea, with a slice of baguette and butter and jam. Occasionally, this might be accompanied by a pastry, such as a croissant, or some fruit juice.
A 'tartine' is a traditional French breakfast food, consisting of a section of crusty baguette cut lengthwise, with butter and jam.
Other pastries eaten for breakfast in France include pain au chocolat, beignets (deep-fried pastries similar to doughnuts), pain au raisin, brioche, and croque monsieur or croque madame.
Breakfast is usually served from 7:30 am in cafes and from 6 am in hotels. It usually lasts until 11 am.
