Ladurée is a famous pâtisserie, or pasty shop, in Paris that is well-known for its yummy, rainbow-colored assortment of macarons. Many visitors flock to the main Ladurée store along the Champs-Elysées, but have you heard about the second most famous macaron stop in Paris: Pierre Hermé? Pierre Hermé actually worked at Paris competitors Fauchon and Ladurée before striking it out on his own and now has a number of locations named after himself. Whereas Ladurée is known for its Belle Époque store décor and more traditional offerings, Pierre Hermé is known for innovative and creative flavors combinations. For instance, one of the current seasonal macaron flavors at Pierre Hermé is olive oil with mandarin orange and cucumber water!
Now, if you’ve been reading my blog you’ll know we already discussed our discovery of macarons at Ladurée during our 2012 Paris visit which you read about here. But on our subsequent visit this past Spring, after reading Amy Thomas’ Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) (a delightful, fluffy book about a New Yorker eating sweets in Paris), I decided that I not only needed to return to Ladurée but I also needed to visit Pierre Hermé and conduct a proper tasting to compare macarons from both pâtisseries. Ethan lovingly obliged my crazy macaron tasting notions and we jaunted around Paris collecting our colorful specimens. The Ladurée macarons were bought at the Champs-Elysées location and the Pierre Hermé macarons came from their rue Bonaparte store.
We bought half a dozen macarons at each store, but unfortunately there was not a ton of overlap in similar flavors. While most of Ladurée’s macarons center around a single flavor (rose, lemon, vanilla), most of the macarons at Pierre Hermé are combinations of two or three main flavors (rose & jasmine, apricot & pistachio, chocolate au lait and passion fruit). Sadly, Ladurée was out of pistachio when we were there and Pierre Hermé was out of its popular olive oil and vanilla flavor which made our task even more difficult. We ended up with the following:
Ladurée: Rose, Salted Caramel, Chocolate (pure origin Ghana), Orange Blossom, Strawberry Mint, and Vanilla
Pierre Hermé: Rose, Salted Caramel, Chocolate (pure origin Venezuela), Apricot & Pistachio, Chocolate au Lait & Passion Fruit, and Crème Brûlée
Pricing: The mini macarons at both stores are almost identical in pricing (ask for a simple bag to go for the best price, otherwise you get a pretty box that costs extra) with the cost of the half-dozen macarons totaling 11.10€ at Ladurée and 11.70€ at Pierre Hermé.
We must be challenged because again this year some of the macarons got a bit squished during our metro rides. Perhaps it would be worth paying for a box (we just buy them in bags as it costs less) to help protect the macarons from us! Nonetheless, they still tasted great and let me present you with the Second Annual Independent Travel Cats Macaron Tasting!
The Macaron Smackdown: Ladurée versus Pierre Hermé
Each macaron was carefully cut in half and we each tasted them in the same order, both sipping some great French tea in between yummy bites. The researcher/scientist part of me really tried to give each store an even chance.
Chocolate Macaron Taste Off
Ethan – PH – stronger, richer chocolate flavor
Jessica – Ladurée – crispier, smoother outer shell texture, lighter creamier filling
Verdict: Tie!
Salted Caramel Macaron Taste Off
Ethan – PH – can taste the salt, creamier filling
Jessica – PH – creamier filling
Verdict: Pierre Hermé wins for a creamier filling
Rose Macaron Taste Off
Ethan – Ladurée – just a little more of a rose taste…maybe?
Jessica – Ladurée – slightly smoother filling
Verdict: Ladurée, but this was the hardest decision of the three as both were very similar in flavor and texture.
Jessica’ s Rankings Ethan’s Rankings
1. PH Salted Caramel 1. Ladurée Rose
2. Ladurée Rose 2. PH Salted Caramel
3. PH Rose 3. PH Rose
4. Ladurée Chocolate 4. PH Chocolate
5. Ladurée Salted Caramel 5. Ladurée Salted Caramel
6. PH Chocolate 6. Ladurée Chocolate
Overall Verdict of the Macaron Smackdown
Um, it pretty much ended up being a draw. But we still had another 6 macrons (3 from each store) so we saved these for the next day for Part 2 of the macaron tasting.
Paris Macaron Tasting Day Deux!
The following evening we sat down to the difficult task of tasting the leftover half-dozen macarons that weren’t directly comparable to one another. We decided to cut each macaron in half and both taste all six of the remaining flavors and then ranked them.
Ladurée Orange Blossom – light flowery taste, nice filling, but not very orange tasting overall
PH Crème Brûlée – vanilla, sweet flavor, creamy, good but not really any of that light burnt taste you might expect
Ladurée Strawberry Mint – liked strawberry macaron shell, but the filling is like a mint jelly and did not enjoy jelly texture
PH Chocolate au Lait & Passion Fruit – complex, sweet & sour, inside is a chocolate center (not creamy), interesting taste
PH Apricot & Pistachio – OK, but a bit too much going on with the flavor and texture combinations, odd color (orange and green)
Ladurée Vanilla – good texture, clean sweet vanilla taste, a bit too sweet perhaps
Jessica Rankings Ethan Rankings
1. PH Crème Brûlée 1. PH Crème Brûlée
2. Ladurée Orange Blossom 2. Ladurée Vanilla
3. PH Chocolate & Passion Fruit 3. Ladurée Orange Blossom
4. Ladurée Vanilla 4. PH Apricot & Pistachio
5. PH Apricot & Pistachio 5. Ladurée Strawberry Mint
6. Ladurée Strawberry Mint 6. PH Chocolate & Passion Fruit
The Verdict of the Great 2013 French Macaron Tasting….
Well, honestly, it was pretty much a tie across all our tastings. In the actual head-to-head challenge, it was a draw. In sampling a selection of three additional macarons from both stores, you can see that even though Ethan and I didn’t always agree, we both favored macarons from both Ladurée and Pierre Hermé. So unfortunately we were not able to solve the long-raging debate about which pastry shop makes the best macarons and I think it all comes down to a personal preference. Some of our favorites from the 12 were PH Salted Caramel, Ladurée Rose, and PH Crème Brûlée. You can also check out our Ladurée favorites from last year. Overall, it was a draw and whereas Ladurée might win for consistency, texture and store décor, PH is clearly the winner if you are looking for some adventurous, innovative flavors. We suggest you try both and conduct your own “professional” macaron tasting—we had a blast doing this. While Pierre Hermé has not yet come to the U.S., there is a Ladurée location in New York, but we suggest that this activity is best done in Paris!
Have you tried Ladurée or Pierre Hermé macarons or other treats? Have a favorite? We’d love to hear your opinions and recommendations.
Ella Post author
We have tried both Pierre Hermé macarons and Ladurée macarons this past summer and we liked PH macarons better. We bought the PH macarons at the shop at the Eiffel Tower while we bought the Ladurée macarons at the Château de Versailles. Prior to our trip, I have read lots of people saying that Ladurée macarons are a must try when in Paris so we made it a point to get some. We tried the PH macarons first and had the Ladurée macarons the day after. When we bit into the PH macarons, it just melted in the mouth and was quite fluffy, hard shell on the outside and soft on the inside. Just fell in love with it. When we tried Ladurée macarons we found it good but not as good as PH. When it comes to the macaron shell, Ladurée macarons didn’t really have any distinctive or special taste that provided a wow factor. It tasted like the macarons we can typically get here in the US. I have been fascinated with macarons for a couple of years now that I decided to learn how to make it. Took me more than a month of constant trial and error before I was able to make good ones. When we tasted the PH macarons, I thought the ones I made paled in comparison. The PH macarons became my goal. I found a PH macarons recipe book and tried out his recipe. First time I tried the recipe, I was successful in re-creating one that was the same or close to the ones we tasted. Since then that has become my go to recipe when making macarons.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ella,
So glad that you were able to try both Ladurée and Pierre Hermé macarons while in Paris. Everyone seems to have their own favorites and preferences and sounds like PH was a clear winner for you. They are definitely known to be more modern and have more rich and experimental flavors than Ladurée.
That is amazing that you were able to make some macarons at home that are similar to the ones at PH! Which of the PH cookbooks did you use for your recipes (as future readers may be interested)? I think PH has a couple that are available in English.
That is especially nice since there are no Pierre Hermé shops in the USA that I am aware of yet (we do have one in London). Whereas Ladurée has opened several shops in the USA and Canada. I expect PH will eventually expand into the USA (they do have a number of locations elsewhere outside of France) as well but I don’t think they are as well-known yet as Ladurée with Americans.
Thanks for sharing your macaron experience in Paris and your journey to recreate the macarons from PH!
Best,
Jessica
Ella Post author
This is the PH recipe book that I use: Macarons: https://amzn.to/3YO1n7z
The book details the step-by-step process of how PH makes his macarons and the ganache filling that he uses in his macarons. I find this book really useful.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Thanks Ella for letting us know 😉
Lark Post author
I like both but Pierre Hermes better. Laduree is more traditional, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Pierre Hermes is more adventurous with flavors, and new ones are introduced frequently. Avoid Laduree on the Champs-Elysees…always crowded, with tourists taking longer to order because many of them have never had a macaron before. Pierre Hermes shops are modern, but still very French.
There is a distinct difference in the store culture between the two. Laduree staff is a bit more formal than Pierre Hermes, which goes with being traditionally French and proud of Laduree’s long history.
If you think Americans take sides Laduree vs. Pierre Hermes, so do the French. My impression is Pierre Hermes has the edge with people under 50.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lark,
Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts on the Pierre Hermes versus Laduree macarons debate!
Yes, I think we have probably tried macarons now in Paris at about 10 to 15 different places but I would say that these two still remain our two overall favorites. And yes, I agree on your impressions on Laduree focusing on more traditional flavors.
For those looking for quick macarons in Paris, we find the kiosks, such as the ones in the department stores or airports, are normally the fastest when we simply just want macarons to takeaway. For instance, I think Pierre Hermes has two locations at Galeries Lafayette and Fauchon macarons (another popular brand) are also available there. Laduree has a kiosk at nearby Printemps. These are typically fast service options.
Best,
Jessica
Pinoy Post author
I love this! I can’t say I was a huge fan of any of the macarons I tried in Paris and I tried to avoid the huge tourist spots – might have to hit up Pierre Hermé when I go back for a visit ?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Pinoy,
We’ve tried macarons in Paris at probably about 20 places now (!) and I think you should definitely give Pierre Hermé and/or Ladurée a try before deciding you don’t love macarons. They are popular for a reason although they are also two of the more pricey places for macarons in Paris. But macarons are definitely not for everyone so it just depends on your tastes!
Both Pierre Hermé and Ladurée have a number of store locations in Paris and if you avoid the stores in the major tourist areas (e.g., Champs-Élysées) then the lines are not normally that long.
Best,
Jessica
Marie Post author
FYI, at Ladurée you don’t have to get a bag if you don’t want a fancy gift box, they have a plainer box that’s available for free. I can’t remember if it takes 8, 10 or 12 macarons tho;) Personally, I find the special seasonal macrons a Ladurée more interesting. Also, you might also like to try Gérard Mulot as well, they have some yummy flavours.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Marie, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Ladurée macarons. You actually don’t need to get a box at all, they can just put them directly in a bag for you as well if you don’t want to purchase a box. Yes, we enjoy trying the seasonal ones as well 😉
Best,
Jessica
Diana Liong Post author
Have tried both Laduree and Pierre Hermes macaroons during our visit to Paris last spring. And the one flavour that really elevate my appreciation to this beautiful treat is Laduree rose. Love the light texture that they won’t lumped in my mouth, and the subtlety of the rose flavour.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Diana, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Everyone of course has different opinions and preferences on French macarons and whether they prefer Ladurée or Pierre Hermé macarons, but we definitely both also liked the Ladurée rose flavor a lot as well. It was one of our favorites. Best, Jessica
Elise Post author
This is an excellent article, so rich and complete. Just a quick note, I think there are other wonderful Macarons makers, such as Dalloyau & Jean-Paul Hévin
travelcats Post author
Hi Elise, Thanks, glad you enjoyed our article on Paris macarons! Yes, there are so many places that make macarons and it seems it keeps increasing as they have become very popular with visitors. Thanks for the tip of a couple of your favorite macaron makers – will have to try them out the next time I am in Paris! ~ Jessica
Cynthia Luciene Post author
Thank you for mentioning the makers of Macaroons that I couldn’t for the life of me remember!
If photos of the storefronts were posted with the articles they probably would have triggered my memory or helped me figure out the names you just mentioned.
I wonder why no photos of Paris? 🙁 My Nikon film camera that is ancient but takes great photos was stolen while en route from Paris back to the states and since every roll I shot in Paris was in my camera bag, I lost all the beautiful photos I took!! I was hoping to see some here!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Cynthia,
Sorry to hear that your photos were stolen. This post is just about tasting macarons and comparing them across two popular Paris macaron companies. But we have photos of most macaron places in Paris if you are looking for the name of a business other than Ladurée or Pierre Hermé which are the two most popular. Ladurée and Pierre Hermé have multiple locations in Paris, but there are lots of photos of the various storefronts online if you do an image search.
Best,
Jessica
foodtravelworld Post author
I think that Ladurée wins with the more traditional flavours. But, nevertheless, I prefer Pierre Hermé macarons as the flavours are more “bold” and unique!
I did a ranking of some of Pierre Hermé’s macarons. Check it out if you want!
travelcats Post author
Yes, I think it is definitely a matter of a opinion as both are good but different!
Kim Post author
For me I remember starting in 1982 when Laudere made the very large macaroons in only chocolate and cafe? I nearly died when I tasted them. Now it’s all the small ones in many different flavors and, they are delicious but nothing like the large ones in only two flavors!, I miss so much of the old Paris but know about progress!! Back then unless you traveled to Paris, people in the states didn’t even know about a French macaroon! Now they are everywhere and I laugh to myself and say to myself if people only new!!
Nana Post author
I personally like Pierre Herme’s better than Ladurée which are too chewy for my taste. My favorite macarons in the states are in Maryland. Andrea Carmona French Macarons (www.andreacarmona.com). They have well over 12 flavors and are to die for!
C’est Magnifique!
travelcats Post author
Great to hear an opinion from someone else who has tried both types of macarons! I think it is just a matter of preference as we liked certain macarons better from Ladurée and certain ones from PH. I would never have thought to look for macarons in Maryland – although we just had a couple decent macarons in a tiny shop in South Korea so you just never know!
Missy Homemaker Post author
I have just recently found Macarons here in the states. Oh my goodness. I had a salted caramel that was so incredibly delicious. I’ve never tasted anything with a texture like it before. I MUST travel to Paris to try these famous macarons.
travelcats Post author
I know, macarons are just so delicious! I am glad we have both recently discovered this colorful little treats.
Jelli Post author
Wow, this sounds like such a fun “job!” I’ve been to Paris twice but was not really a foodie then. I’d sure love to go back with my family sometime soon and try the macarons. Here in Costa Rica they’re just beginning to gain popularity, but who’s ever heard of a Central American macaron, right? Visiting your fun site from Postcards from Rachel. K
travelcats Post author
Thanks for stopping by and hope you keep following us! Oh, yes it was a tough job:) The French-style macarons have become popular in the U.S. as well but so far we haven’t had great luck in finding comparable ones. How are the ones in Costa Rica? We were just told by a friend who has spent a lot of time in France that we have yet to try the best ones in France and that we’ll have to check out some other places when we return, so this may call for another macaron smackdown in the future!
Melissa Post author
The olive oil with mandarin orange and cucumber water sounds intriguingly delicious. I love the “Macaron Smackdown” – such a great idea! Any future smackdowns in the works?
travelcats Post author
Interesting flavor combo right?! No, no more smackdowns planned yet:)
Sharon @ GetawayBrigade Post author
Oh my gosh, I love this! I haven’t ever had a “real” macaron (the ones that ride along on dessert samplers don’t count) and I don’t want to try one until I can get the real deal…so I guess I’m waiting til I can go to Paris!
These look so good and I cracked up over the fact that you had a macaron taste-off. Cheers!
travelcats Post author
Thanks Sharon! While the SF Bay area has great food, we haven’t found comparable macarons here yet:(
Kate Post author
I love this! I can’t say I was a huge fan of any of the macarons I tried in Paris and I tried to avoid the huge tourist spots – might have to hit up Pierre Hermé when I go back for a visit 😉
travelcats Post author
Yes, in addition to macarons, Pierre Hermé is well known for many of his other pastries and desserts as well.
Meghan Post author
Oh my goodness, you’re making me so hungry right now. I can’t believe I didn’t get any macarons last time I was in Paris. I particularly like the sound of the orange blossom one…mmmm…
Thanks for sharing!
travelcats Post author
Yes, I made myself really miss macarons while writing this post!
Erica Post author
This is brilliant. I was thinking “why didn’t we do that?” and then I saw the prices, which I also saw in the shops there, and remembered that we were living off 15euros a day for all meals 😉 I’ll have to stick to jellybean tasting, though these photos and flavours do make me want macaroons!
travelcats Post author
Next time in Paris, you could conduct a petite tasting with just one or two flavors, I think the mini macarons are less than 2 euros each at both stores. You can find much cheaper macarons elsewhere though as many bakeries and even McDonald’s sell macarons in Paris! I just ran across this fun blog article where people did a blind test comparing Laduree and McDonald’s macarons.
BTW, we did a free tour of the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, CA in July and ate a ton of jellybeans:)