Meurens facts for kids
Siroperie Meurens is a Belgian family company. They are famous for making "Le Vrai Sirop de Liège". This is a traditional Belgian fruit spread. It's a bit like apple butter and is made from local apples, pears, and dates. Siroperie Meurens is the most well-known company that makes Sirop de Liège. They sell their products under the name Vrai Sirop de Liège/Echte Luikse Siroop.
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What is Sirop de Liège?
A Special Belgian Treat
Sirop de Liège is a thick, sweet fruit paste. It's similar to marmalade or quince paste. To make just one pound of this delicious "sirop," they use about four pounds of fresh fruit! The main fruits used are apples, pears, and dates. No extra sugar is added in its refined form. The sweetness comes naturally from the fruits and local sugar beets.
How It's Made
The process of making Sirop de Liège is an old family secret. It involves cooking down the fruits for a long time. This makes the fruit mixture very thick and sweet. The company has been using this special recipe for over a hundred years.
How People Enjoy It
Sirop de Liège is often served on bread. This is called a tartine or open sandwich in Belgium. It also tastes great with a strong-smelling cheese called Fromage de Herve. People also use it in cooking. It can be a base for meatball sauce, like in Boulets à la Liégeoise. It's also used in pancake sauces, such as for boûkète or lacquemant pancakes.
The History of Siroperie Meurens
A Family Business
The company was started in 1902 by Clement Meurens. He began making this special fruit spread in Aubel, Belgium. The recipe for Sirop de Liège is very old. It has been passed down through generations. The name "Sirop de Liège" became a registered trademark in 1947. This helped protect the unique product.
Sirop Meurens Today
Today, the Meurens family still makes this natural product. They are very enthusiastic about it. They have even added new flavors, like apricot.
Beyond the Jar
Besides the jars of "Le Vrai Sirop de Liège" you can buy, the company also makes other products. They create fruit purees and juice concentrates. These are sold to other businesses. These purees and concentrates come from dried fruits like prunes, raisins, figs, dates, and apricots. They also use fresh fruits like apples and pears. Even roots like sugar beet and roasted chicory are used. This helps other companies find natural ways to sweeten their products.
Sirop de Liège in New York
The tradition of Sirop de Liège has even traveled far from Belgium. In New York City, you can find it in a different form. It's used as a filling for delicious chocolate truffles and chocolate bars!
