Noogarons hand-crafts the best local macarons you’ll ever find right here in Chattanooga, TN.
If you’re a macaron lover, then you’ve got to try Noogarons. These macarons are the perfect balance of sweet and flavorful while being crisp yet soft at the same time. Not to mention, Noogarons has so many unique flavors that you will be drooling to try. Keep reading to learn more about this local Chattanooga business and where you can get your hands on these decadent macarons.
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The Story Behind the Best Local Macarons
I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with Leda, the owner of Noogarons herself. She told me her story so that I can share it with you! First off, she grew up in the Philippines. Her mom was a dentist and had a coffee shop for a waiting room. When she was 10, she started baking treats for the shop with her older sister. They would bake simple things like brownies and cookies and she loved it.
Fast forward to 2018. Leda is now living in the States working in the medical field. She took a trip to visit her sister back in the Philippines. Leda’s sister had become a professional baker and while Leda was visiting they decided to try making macarons just for fun. They made a mango flavor with a jelly filling. It turned out amazing! This experience really encouraged Leda to try making macarons when she returned home to Chattanooga, TN.
But little did she know, making macarons is no easy feat. One of the hardest variables is humidity. The humidity in Chattanooga is very different from the humidity in the Philippines. Of course there are other factors too such as oven temperatures and ingredient ratios. Making the perfect macaron is truly a science and Leda was determined to figure it out. She tried and failed hundreds of times, but she never gave up. Then finally, one day, she succeeded. She developed the perfect macaron recipe.
The Beginning of Noogarons
Leda used her new skill to make macarons for her own wedding and the guests loved them. So much so that people told her that they would pay her for them if she would start to sell them. What was first a challenge to accomplish had become a hobby that reminded her of her childhood. But now it was evolving into a business, something she had never dreamed of. She started small with parties and special events. Then as she grew into the community, word got around about her delectable macarons. People in the Chattanooga food community love to help each other out and support one another. Soon she got invited to make macarons for the pop-up dinners in St. Elmo. These dinners are held at the fire hall and feature a 4 or 5 course meal made by local Chattanoogan artisans. It’s a great place to experiment as a new chef or have your work critiqued by the community so you can perfect your craft. Typically they raise money for a cause so it’s a win-win for everyone involved.
As word spread around town about her macarons, small businesses would offer her their products to incorporate into these treats. She would embrace the creative ideas and they would love the results. Because they loved them so much, they would offer to sell her special macarons in their stores. This worked well for Bleu Fox Cheese Shop, her first local partnership. They wanted her to make a flavor with their cheese and so the fig goat cheese flavor was born. It’s still a very popular flavor amongst cheese lovers.
Today, Noogarons has grown to a commercial bakery downtown with multiple bakers. The best part for Leda is, and has always been, the creative process. She sees macarons as blank canvases ready to take on any creative flavor she can dream up. She would love to open up a storefront of her own one day, but that may take a few years to accomplish. For now, she is happy to utilize the other local businesses who have helped her sell her macarons all over Chattanooga.
Macaron Flavors You’d Never Imagine
Leda’s goal with Noogarons is to create an experience in a box. She turns to nostalgia when brainstorming new flavor ideas. With nostalgia she can bring back good memories to every person who enjoys one of her macarons.
Take for example the box she gave me to try. She decided to do a cereal series. Her idea is that you don’t get excited when you think back to when you were a kid and remember eating cheerios or raisin bran for breakfast. Instead, you smile when you remember eating fruity pebbles or cinnamon toast crunch. All those sugary cereals you would be lucky to have if your mom let you. That is the experience she wants to create. A revival of good memories in the process of making new ones.
Where to Buy Noogarons
Noogarons can be found in many local Chattanooga stores. Variety packs and seasonal flavors can be found at multiple local shops. You’ll find some specific flavors sold only in the store where they were born. For example, you will find flavors that infuse whiskey only at Chattanooga Whiskey. And if you want to try the fig goat cheese macaron you’ll need to visit the Bleu Fox Cheese Shop.
If you’re local to Chattanooga and want custom macarons for your special event, you can even request this too. Now if you’re not local to Chattanooga or can’t wait until you visit, you can easily purchase these macarons online. You can scroll through to see all the available flavors ranging from the classics to seasonal and unique. If you order from the Noogarons website you can buy macarons to be shipped to you anywhere. You can also try the subscription macaron club to get the best local macarons on a regular basis. Note that the macarons are shipped insulated because they must stay refrigerated due to the buttercream filling.
In Closing
Noogarons continues to make the best local macarons that Chattanooga enjoys. Each batch is carefully hand-crafted and the creativity is limitless. Various flavors and designs abound, so be sure to check out what Noogarons has to offer for your next special event.
Check out my YouTube video to watch me try the cereal flavored macarons for the first time. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve tried Noogarons before and what your favorite flavor is. And if you haven’t tried it yet, tell me which flavor you’re most excited to try. Until next week, enjoy Exploring Chatt!
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