French figures: The most controversial pastry in France

If you have ever sunk your teeth into a soft, warm pain au chocolat fresh from the oven, you will know what we're talking about. 

This exquisite pastry, found in any boulangerie in any French city, town or village (unless they have run out) is arguably one of the major perks of living in France.

But in some French cities, asking for a pain au chocolat could potentially cause a stir.

The reason is that some parts of France staunchly preach a no-pain au chocolat policy. It doesn't mean they don't eat it, they just call it chocolatine instead.

 

In the southwest, around Bordeaux, some boulangeries seem to take the rivalry so seriously that they charge more for a pain au chocolat than a chocolatine.

 

READ ALSO: French pastry wars: Pain au chocolat versus chocolatine

The majority of the French would say pain au chocolat, at least according to one website entirely devoted to the topic. 

Although chocolatine-supporters would insist that a pain au chocolat - which directly translates as 'chocolate bread' - looks like this:

 

But recently some have pointed out that the "real impostor" was neither of the two French variants, but the American newcomer: the "chocolate croissant".