COME AND MEET MARION MEYER

THE CIRQUES

Marion Meyer, a farmer based in Cilaos, has reinvented the art of promoting her territory’s aromatic plants and flowers. With a passion for cooking and limitless creativity, she comes up with such unique products as handcrafted lollipops incorporating the flavours and beauty of local plants. Drawing inspiration from the Cirque’s peaceful atmosphere and spectacular landscapes, Marion has turned her surroundings into a source of culinary innovation. Her career, a combination of agriculture and gastronomy, reflects her commitment to authentic, respectful production.

A career combining cookery and agriculture

Before becoming a farmer, Marion Meyer started out in life as a chef. “I wanted to have quality products to process, so I said to myself, Marion, you’ll have to grow them yourself”, she says. After obtaining an Advanced Technician’s Certificate (BTS) in crop production and a degree in agriculture on Reunion Island, she decided to stay on the Island and combine her love of cooking and nature.

It was in Cilaos, where she lives with her partner, that Marion found the inspiration for her farm project. “The climate, the mountains and the social life here are outstanding. It’s an ideal setting for farming and creating”, she explains. Combining passion and expertise, she turns her farm’s plants and flowers into original products.

Innovative, committed products

Marion’s determination to promote local resources has led her to create unique products. Her flagship creations include salts flavoured with plants grown in Cilaos, plant jellies and, above all, her famous handcrafted lollipops. “I wanted a product that reflects the beauty and taste of our territory. Lollipops made from edible flowers were the perfect compromise”, she explains.

Her lollipops, which contain no essential oils or glucose, are made from Reunionese sugar and plants from her farm. Their design, the fruit of a year’s research, combines the aesthetic and the natural, resulting in an authentic gourmet product. “I wanted to capture the true taste of Cilaos’ nature and beauty in every lollipop”, Marion adds.

 

The Cilaos Cirque, a source of inspiration

Cilaos’ unique setting plays a key role in Marion’s creations. “Here, you work in peace and quiet, surrounded by mountains. It lets you give free rein to your imagination”, she says. Well aware of the constraints of her region, Marion focuses on such specialities as aromatic plants and flowers, which adapt perfectly to Cilaos’ climate. “Market gardening would be too complicated here, so I’ve adapted and cultivate whatever grows well, with an emphasis on quality and originality”, she explains.

Marion also promotes the convivial side of local life. “Cilaos’ market is a unique venue for sharing and exchange. It’s a real source of motivation to create products that please consumers and tell stories”, she adds.

With these atypical products and her innovative approach, Marion Meyer demonstrates that it’s possible to combine creativity with respect for the terroir. Her handcrafted lollipops and other unique creations embody the very soul of Cilaos, capturing the essence of an exceptional region and the commitment of a passionate farmer.

Avec ses produits atypiques et son approche innovante, Marion Meyer démontre qu’il est possible de marier créativité et respect du terroir. Ses sucettes artisanales et autres créations uniques incarnent l’âme de Cilaos, capturant l’essence d’un territoire exceptionnel et l’engagement d’une agricultrice passionnée.

GOURMET PORTRAIT

If I were…

A dish

Smoked chicken with banana flowers or without the chicken as long as there are banana flowers !

A product

chilli pepper

A place

Cilaos Cirque it’s magical

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