There are few things more French than good food and romance, so Douce France is the perfect place to pick up Valentine’s Day treats. Everything is personally selected and imported by the owner, Christel, who only brings in artisanally made products from 45 suppliers that she learned about through word-of-mouth.
The difference in quality and taste is obvious. While many chocolates are filled with palm oil, sugar, and other fillers, the chocolates sold here contain a high quantity of chocolate and other pure ingredients. The lingering taste is delicious, meaning it’s not necessary to eat as many to feel satisfied, and the boxes, while smaller than some other mass-produced options, are filled with candies, not plastic separators.
In fact, sustainable packaging is top of mind for Christel. She works to bring in products that can be reused rather than discarded. Gift boxes are made of high quality baskets and wrapped in beautiful, all cotton made in France reusable shopping bags. Individual items are giftwrapped in tea towels, and tins of candies and teas can be refilled rather than thrown away. They sell the candies and loose leaf teas, making it easier and less expensive to continue to indulge. Beverages even come in glass bottles with stoppers that can be used to serve water the French way. Une carafe d’eau is quintessentially French and using this bottle on your own table at home will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a Parisian cafe.
So much of running a business that imports individual products from France is about the logistics. Christel focuses on keeping costs low by buying in bulk and organizing and shipping full skids that contain products from various artisans located near each other. This is an intentional process that allows Douce France to continue selling very high quality items at the lowest possible costs. While it involves a high degree of cash flow and risk, the store is supported by a loyal local customer base and by shoppers who travel up to 3 hours away, as there really aren’t any other stores like this!
Bulk purchasing also provides some advantages to shoppers, as products that reach best by dates are discounted, while remaining safe to consume for up to a year after that date. Nothing goes to waste in this store, as perishable items that are not sold are donated to the Good Shepherd Mission.
Like the chocolates, other products only contain the best ingredients, following French laws that prevent unnecessary additives and preservatives being included in foods. This means that mustard and flour products lack the normal additives we see in Canada and may be tolerated better by people with gluten sensitivities. Real butter is used in all the pastries, which are baked in the store.
While the fine quality specialty foods and desserts will draw you into the store, it’s the passion behind the business that will keep you coming back. Everything about this store is a product of love and determination by the owner, from the unwillingness to bend on the quality and authenticity of the goods, to the service provided by Christel and her associate, Laurence. Both of them find joy in taking the time to share their knowledge on the products, inform you of precisely where they’re from and the ingredients used. This store represents the heart of French culture that prides itself on living well and keeping alive the value of terroir.
And most interesting of all, Christel invites you to learn all about the culture of French foods by joining her on trips to France to meet the suppliers, taste the goods, and help to select which products to stock next. This year’s trip will travel to Brittany and Normandy in September. Only two spots remain, so reach out to Christel fast if you’re interested in learning more. This would truly be a dream Valentine’s gift for those who want to splurge, learn more about French culture, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Trips will be organized in 2027 as well, with priority given to those who have attended previous tours.
Douce France has been in business for 12 years and is located at 820 Danforth Ave since 2018. If you can’t make it into the store personally, delivery is available.