For a few weeks now, everyone has been talking about it. It must be said that after the explosion of a few videos on TikTok, which came out of nowhere, the Algerian spread El Mordjene has experienced dazzling success and an unexpected craze, out of chauvinism, and also because of its resemblance to Nutella.
Empty grocery shelves, rationing… The craze and sudden popularity of the El Mordjene spread were such that it quickly found itself out of stock in France. But now, the problem at stake is much more serious: the spread, made with milk and roasted hazelnut cream — also reminiscent of the inside of Kinder Bueno — is now banned throughout Europe.
The reason? A list that regulates the entry of food products containing milk into the European Union… and on which Algeria does not appear. According to Mustapha Zebdi, the president of the Algerian Association for Consumer Protection (APOCE), the decision is based on Article 20 of European Union Regulation No. 2202/2292, which regulates the importation of food products containing milk into the European Union.
But for Internet users and APOCE, the real reason for this sudden ban comes from elsewhere… It could be a response to the dazzling success of El Mordjene and, who knows, a response from their competitors on the spread market. No one really knows, for the moment, what is certain is that this story has turned the existence of this Algerian praline upside down.
In a post published in Releasethe journalist Rachid Laïreche regrets and views this sudden glory with bittersweet eyes: “Nothing will ever be the same again. Just type El Mordjene on your keyboard to understand. Everyone is talking about it, everywhere. The Algerian spread has crossed the Mediterranean.”
“A treasure that falls into the water. All the messages received this summer during my vacation in the bled should have prepared me psychologically. Acquaintances who have no connection with Algeria contacted me to ask me to slip a pot into my suitcase.”
The fact remains that in France, the quest for this spread has reached dizzying heights, more or less pacifist. A few days ago, in Marseille, a grocery store employee was held up in a building by several men, reports the local daily ProvenceThinking he would get his hands on a stock of spread, he had come with 5,000 euros in his pocket, but found himself face to face with armed individuals who robbed him and let him leave… empty-handed.
All this for a spread… that you could easily remake at home with hazelnut praline and a little white chocolate. For the full recipe, click here.
