1701, South Africa’s Finest Handcrafted Nougat, Launches In The GCC

Hailing from South Africa, 1701 has newly launched in the GCC market with its handcrafted and original nougat recipe. With the help of their latest partnership with Tashas Group, the established confectionery brand has recently launched its online store as well as entered tashas cafés.

Traditionally, nougat is a French confection with a solid body made from honey, nuts, and egg whites, and 1701 perfected its unique recipe through a process that took 20 years within the founder’s family. Named after the year nougat was first made in Montélimar, France, the soul of 1701 has grown from the love of giving and the art of gifting, flourishing from a passion that has grown over family generations. Established in 2015, Founder Nick Scher started the company on the kindness and compassion of his mother and grandmother, which are a driving force behind their business. Nick’s mother Lianne Scher spent hours at her mother’s flower shop in South Africa, helping her create beautiful pieces where she saw the joy people received every day, and which propelled her to develop her personal way of giving to others through food and sweets. After years of watching his mother express her love through food, Nick intuitively followed in her footsteps, and so the exceptional recipe for 1701’s nougat was created.

1701’s special nougat recipe combines the finest quality and preservative-free ingredients. Using honey and macadamia nuts harvested from their own farm in South Africa, this melange creates a rich, soft, creamy, and slightly chewy texture that is unique to the brand. 1701’s recipe consists of their signature honey and sugar syrup, heated to just the right temperature until it is mixed with beaten free-range egg whites. Once this nougat base is cooked, it is then mixed with a selection of roasted nuts, salted caramel brittle shards, dates, almonds, and other additional specific ingredients.

“1701 is nothing short of extraordinary, myself and the Tashas Group are excited to bring this product to the UAE in all its glory. Our company’s values are shared with 1701, where we believe in curating a personal experience through care and food grounded in heritage. We look forward to sharing this with everyone.” shares Natasha Sideris, Founder of Tashas Group (tashas café, Avli, Flamingo Room, Galaxy Bar).

Over the years, 1701 has had significant partnerships with notable companies including Netflix, Lamborghini, Porsche, and The Oyster Box Hotel from Red Carnation Group. In honour of their launch in the GCC, 1701 brings an array of new nougat flavours specific to the region. The Middle East has a traditional and ancestral taste for sweets, using various nuts and natural herbal flavours that can be found in this particular part of the world. This has created an environment where locals have an instinctive affinity towards confection and a palate that matches the profile of nougat. Playing with ingredients iconic to the region, 1701 has created seven flavours including Date, Almond & Cardamom, Turkish Delight & Almond, Halva & Almond, Salted Caramel Brittle & Pistachio, Salted Caramel Brittle & Macadamia, Roasted Almond, and finally Macadamia nougat. These special recipes have been made available in luxury gift boxes with ready cut, bite-size pieces, perfect to carry on their tradition of gifting to loved ones.

Commenting on 1701’s expansion, Founder Nick Scher says, “We can’t wait to share our brand, our story and indulgent products with the Middle Eastern audience. Our nougat is one-of-a-kind with an original taste, especially our new line with flavours specifically created for the region. We truly believe that sharing this with the UAE and Gulf countries has been a long time coming, and partnered with Tashas Group, we cannot wait for 1701 nougat to be shared by all.”

1701 is more than confectionery, their heart is in nougat, and their soul is in giving and bringing joy through sweets to be indulged in by all. In 2023, 1701 will continue its expansion by supplying Bayley & Sage stores in London with their nougat range. The South African nougat brand is now available for purchase through their online store by visiting https://1701luxury.ae/.