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A Mendiant is a small circle of tempered chocolate topped with fruits and nuts. Mendiants are of French origin and can be found in the French chocolate stores year round. The word mendiant is associated with the word mendicant. The Thesaurus describes a mendicant as one who seeks alms, such as a begging monk, begging friar, beggar, alms-seeker or panhandler.
These Mendiants are topped with fruits and nuts that are meant to represent the robe colors of four mendicant orders. Figs represent the Franciscans and almonds represent the Carmelites. It is interesting to note that the Dominicans and Augustinians, both following the rule of St. Augustine, originally wore white. It was the pope who ordered the Dominicans to wear black to distinguish themselves from the Augustinians. As a result, an outer black cloak identified these Dominicans as "Black Friars" and they are thus represented by raisins. In the year 1244, Augustinians known as the "White Hermits of Tuscany" formed the first group of Augustinian friars. Augustinians are represented by the hazelnut. Augustinians have the freedom of wearing black or white. A common robe is black with white undersleeves and white cowl.
While the above mentioned toppings are specific to the four mendicant orders, other combinations of fruits, nuts, seeds and even citrus are used for various reasons such as seasons, celebrations, holidays, color, flavor and shape. Enjoy each Mendiant: its flavor, color and design!
Sister Evelyn Brokish, OSF
 Sister Evelyn: Highland, IndianaSister Evelyn, a Sister of St. Francis of Assisi from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, began her professional career as musician-liturgist in 1959. Since that time, she has ministered in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, South Carolina and Indiana. In 2006 she began Poverello Delights, her creative homemade candy-making business, with seed money from her family and her religious congregation. "Poverello" refers to St. Francis, meaning "little poor person" in Italian. Proceeds support the sisters in their work of continuing the mission of Jesus with the poor and unprivileged. "Everything is homemade and from the heart," says Sister Evelyn.
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