Croissant Crawl | An Oranais at Karine & Teddy, Tours, France
Golden Orbs Connecting Two Lands
I walked by Karine & Teddy's everyday when I studied in Tours. The views inside were immaculate, like a boutique selling fine wares. I stopped in one day and was greeted by a cheerful woman, presumably Karine. Overwhelmed by the choices I asked about a pastry with golden orbs, what was it?
Apricots she told me. An oranais. Also known as a croissant aux abricots, or apricot croissant.
A farewell from Karine and Teddy
The pastry is in reference to the town of Oran in Algeria where apricot production was big at one point. It serves as a symbol of exchange between the two countries. It was born when the French introduced crème pâtissière to the area. Halved apricots sit on a layer of the pastry cream with a fold of laminated dough. Some pearl sugar and sliced almonds decorate the top.
The creation resembles a pair of glasses and is also known as apricot glasses (lunette aux abricots). It kind of looks like an owl's face to me at the right angle.
It was a beautiful piece to look at it, fitting of the space they created. I wish I would have visited more often and tried other things. You tend to take for granted how hard it is to start a business and keep it going. This wasn't a big box conglomerate, it was a husband and wife team carving out a living in the heart of France, in Tours. Sadly, I learned their shop had closed in May of 2025 through their Instagram post.
Hopefully the next chapter goes well for them and they can continue to offer their talents to others.
Crawl Notes
Karine & Teddy (Permanently Closed May 2025)
Address
Karine & Teddy
2 Rue Lamartine, 37000 Tours, France
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