French 3 Launches A Taste of France with a Chocolate Dégustation

French 3 students began the year with a delicious introduction to Mercy’s new French 3 curriculum, A Taste of France. Designed to explore French language and culture through the rich traditions of French gastronomy, the course combines culinary history, literature, cultural study, and authentic experiences—all while expanding students’ ability to communicate in French.

For their first dégustation of the year, students participated in a chocolate tasting conducted entirely in French. After learning about the history of chocolate and its place in French culture and gastronomy, students became dégustateurs as they examined a selection of chocolates containing different percentages of cacao.

Rather than simply tasting the chocolate, students were challenged to engage their senses and use French descriptive vocabulary to analyze each sample. They observed its appearance, listened to the sound of the chocolate as it broke, felt its texture, identified its aroma, and finally evaluated its flavor. Using their sensory observations, students attempted to determine the percentage of cacao in each chocolate.

The activity transformed the French classroom into a place of cultural discovery, where students were not only learning about French culinary traditions but also experiencing them. Through discussion and comparison in French, students expanded their vocabulary, expressed opinions, described sensory experiences, and made connections between language, culture, history, and gastronomy.

The chocolate dégustation served as the launch project for A Taste of France and the first of many tasting experiences students will encounter throughout the course, as they strengthen their communication skills.  As the year continues, students will explore the stories, traditions, foods, and people that have helped establish France as one of the world’s great centers of gastronomy.

A Taste of France represents an exciting addition to the French curriculum at Mercy. By bringing authentic cultural experiences into the classroom, the course invites students to do more than study French—they are encouraged to experience French culture through its history, language, traditions, and, of course, its tastes.

Bienvenue à A Taste of France—où la langue, la culture et la gastronomie se rencontrent!