This article was written in collaboration with Michelle Ambrosio.

If you squirrel away enough money and get a chance to head to France you simply must try the croissants. From the French meaning crescent, the croissant was invented in Paris in 1839. To help you get the most out of your croissant experience, we have created the following guide. Here are the 5 things you will love and hate, yes, hate, about croissants in France.

Croissants with a glass of orange juice

Five Loves

Just Like Snowflakes, No Two Croissants Are The Same
Get your croissants from a boulangerie (bakery), each one makes them in a different way. Their taste, look, feel, sound and cost are different. Explore and try the croissants at different boulangeries. Trust me, this won’t be a difficult task as there are as many boulangeries in France as there are liquor stores in the U.S.

Making Croissants—Not As Easy As You Think
Now you might ask yourself, “Why is this a plus?” It’s a plus because it’s the pastry chefs who do all the work: make the dough, let it rest, fold it, refrigerate, etc. You will appreciate that you are enjoying a pastry that was created with skill, patience and history.

Warm Croissants—The Holy Grail of Pastries
As if croissants alone weren’t delectable enough, if you get lucky you might be in for an extra treat—warm croissants. There is no secret formula to getting warm croissants, unless you know someone. Yes, croissants are delicious, but there is nothing like sinking your teeth into fresh baked and warm croissants.

Love at First Bite
You will instantly fall in love with croissants. The buttery taste, texture, aroma and sound all play a role of what makes a good croissant. On the outside you’ll find: a flaky, golden and crunchy crust—you should hear crunchiness through your last bite. The inside is soft, moist and airy.

Enjoy With Your Favorite Beverage
Croissants pair up wonderfully with your favorite morning beverage. They go well with coffee, tea, orange juice, or any fruit juice, even if you’re in the mood for a plain glass of milk, why not? Customize your croissant to your like and taste, the possibilities are endless. Tip: for an extra sweet kick to your croissant, spread on your favorite confiture (jam).

 

Five Hates

The End of the Line
Everybody and their grandmother knows that croissants are delicious. Don’t expect to just walk into a boulangerie and order a croissant right away. There will be a line. So as you should’ve learned in kindergarten, wait your turn. Fortunately, the lines move quickly and you will be running home in no time to enjoy your croissants.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm
Don’t say I didn’t warn you, boulangeries do run out of croissants. If you wake up late and head to the boulangerie at, say, 10:30 AM, they might be sold out. Don’t despair dough—I mean “though”—just walk a little further and you’ll find another place that might still have some. Do head out earlier the next day to find out why the first boulangerie was sold out—you might be pleasantly surprised.

Can’t Buy Too Many
You will love croissants so much that you will be tempted to buy lots of them—don’t do it. The croissants that you bought Monday morning will not taste as good on Tuesday morning. The freshness and the crispiness are not there anymore. Don’t get me wrong, they still beat any packaged croissant out there, but they are not quite up to quality as they were on the morning you bought them.

Not all Croissants are Created Equal
With the overwhelming amount of industrialized food thrown at us, we are used to perfectly shaped croissants, sliced bread, round cookies and the like. There are slight differences in the croissants’ shapes: some resemble a crescent moon, others are joined at the ends and others are straight. If perfection is what you’re used to, forget about it—otherwise you’ll be disappointed.

You Ran Out
After eating your croissant, you’ll want more. Tough cookies because you only bought one. Avoid being in this situation and ensure you buy at least two croissants. After all, you are in France, savor it while you can.

Whether you are in France for a couple of hours, a few days, or several weeks, plan a visit to a local boulangerie. Not only will you get to savor delicious croissants but you will also get to practice your French, it’s a win-win.