There Are Baguette Vending Machines In The French Wilderness

If you've ever felt peckish at work or found yourself desperate for a cold drink on a hot day, you've probably felt extreme joy upon seeing a vending machine. These devices have a long and interesting history from the Roman era. An ancient Greek mathematician developed a machine with the very important purpose of providing holy water within Egyptian temples. Over time, vending machines spread to numerous areas of the globe, including England, France, and the U.S. These machines also dispensed various goods, such as gum, postcards, and even alcoholic beverages.

These days, vending equipment is mainly associated with conveniently dispensing snacks and beverages. They're commonly found in schools, offices, hospitals, and commercial and public spaces. Modern versions are often highly technical and can include features like touchscreens and drop sensors to ensure the customer receives their item. However, France has taken the concept of vending machines a step further by providing famished hikers in remote areas with fortifying carbs.

Hiking can quickly work up an appetite, one that can't be sated by granola alone. For hikers in France, strategically located vending machines dispense baguettes, a long, crusty loaf of bread that is practically synonymous with the country. One lucky hiker happened upon one of these modern marvels and shared his experience via TikTok. In the short clip, the hiker receives a tasty baguette from a rectangular machine with a bread-dispensing slot in the middle. Per the hiker, the dispensed bread comes out of the slot warm, toasty, and is anything but mid — meaning the baguette quality was well above average.

The machine in the clip is from ICI Baguettes, which is solely devoted to developing bread-dispensing devices. As for features, ICI Baguettes machines can hold up to 86 baguettes at once while still being pleasantly compact (measuring 31 inches by 31 inches). The devices can also offer two types of baguettes, traditional and ordinary. When it comes to the difference between these two options, it all lies in the baking technique.

Iconic French bread loaves are separated into two distinct categories: tradition and baguette. Tradition versions must adhere to France's bread law, which stipulates baguettes must only contain water, salt, yeast, and wheat flour. Additionally, traditions must also be baked in the same establishments where they're sold. On the other hand, non-tradition baguettes can include extra ingredients like nuts or preservatives. Because they're of higher quality, baguette de tradition is typically more expensive.

The matter is so serious that French bakers and protectors of gallic culture endeavored to get the baguette recognized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which supports cultural heritage all over the globe. The effort was successful on November 30, 2022, when UNESCO designated the baguette as a cultural symbol of France. While the news indeed delighted the citizens of France, it also bodes well for hungry hikers, as they can rest easy knowing that a delicious loaf of high-quality bread can be obtained with just the push of a button.