Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This piece explores the surprising reality behind the romanticized image of traditional mulled wine at Christmas markets, revealing that the “homemade” brew often comes from a box.
First stop for anyone visiting a Christmas market: a glass of mulled wine. Wine bottles hanging and grape clusters as decorations, juice gently warming in a large copper cauldron, marked with the words “traditional mulled wine” — everything is designed to make us think the brew is concocted on site.
When we asked the vendor, he replied:
Yet, with a slightly trained eye, you can spot several stacked boxes at the back of the chalet. The label is even clearly visible and indicates the steps to follow: “Put the mulled wine in a saucepan. Add a slice of orange. Bring to a boil and simmer. Serve hot.”
The wine is therefore not homemade at all, not even the addition of spices, apparently unnecessary since the drink is already ready in its box…
Inquiries with the supplier reveal that these boxes are sold to professionals at 20 euros for 10 liters, or 1 euro per 50 cl glass… Resold for 10 euros at the market.
In another chalet, we find all kinds of Christmas tree decorations, most featuring Paris, Notre-Dame, or the Eiffel Tower. The label on the back indicates “Made in PRC,” for “People’s Republic of China.”
People’s Republic of China is indeed the official name of China. But the use of the acronym, which appeared on labels in the 2000s, makes reading more difficult for consumers. One might see it as a strategy to maintain ambiguity about the product’s origin, while the mention “China,” still widely present a few years ago, left no room for doubt.
On another label, we read “Designed in France.” But when we turn it over, we see that a second piece of information has been added: “Created in France. Made in China.”
“Drawn,” “created,” “designed,” “conceptualized”… These are all terms frequently used to mislead consumers about where a product is manufactured. Don’t be fooled: look for the terms “Made in” to know the actual origin of the item.
This item, by the way, is sold for eight euros at the Christmas market and can be found at half the price online.
Our journey then leads us to a chalet selling costume jewelry. Not a single label can be found. The saleswoman claims the manufacturing is local and artisanal.
We still manage to spot a few brand names. After a quick online search, we discover that these names correspond to wholesalers with warehouses in Aubervilliers. They all import their products from China.
We find the jewelry in catalogs intended for professionals, sold for around three euros per piece. At the market, they are sold for 20 euros per piece.
In a nearby cabin, small lavender sachets and multicolored soaps. They are engraved with the words “Marseille soap” and “original.” But when we ask the vendor about the manufacturer, he points us to a supplier located in Fitou, in the Aude region.
There is nothing fraudulent about this, strictly speaking: the name “Marseille soap” is not protected and can therefore be freely used, even when the soaps are not made in Marseille.
Consumers, however, do not always know this and may legitimately think they are buying authentic Marseille soap when sold as such.
Know that real Marseille soap contains neither perfume nor dye: it is a greenish color, corresponding to the shade of olive oil, of which it is composed 72%, and has no real smell, other than that of olive oil.
On the manufacturer’s website, the soaps are sold for 2.5 euros each. At the market, they are 4 euros.
Also be careful with certain products, this time truly artisanal, but which do not comply with regulations, probably more due to a lack of knowledge of the latter than dishonesty.
Our attention is particularly drawn to handcrafted candles, made by hand in France, but which do not have the mandatory labeling.
