breaux mart kc slice

The praline king cake from the Breaux Mart groceries is a tasty twist on tradition, and a bargain for king cakes. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Whether or not Louisianans should indulge in king cakes post-Carnival season has become a controversial topic — and a viral social media post has shined light on the highly debatable question. 

A post shared on X Monday, which has since garnered thousands of views, questioned why New Orleans grocery store Breaux Mart was still sell their king cakes in March, more than a month after Mardi Gras.

Breaux Mart responded quickly, explaining that the king cake creations were an accident and the matter had been dealt with accordingly.

The grocery store chain has a years-long policy against selling king cakes after the season, X users pointed out.

Breaux Mart made a series of playful posts in response, taking full accountability for their actions and claiming that the incident — coined 'King Cake Gate' by the grocery store — was an honest oversight. 

It was once a known rule that king cakes should only be eaten during Mardi Gras.

However, many other stores have started to sell king cakes long after Carnival season. In fact, you can still order the purple and green-garnished pastries  Rouses stores across the city.

Some bakeries have even further rebelled against the rule by attempting to make king cake a staple for national holidays, such as New Orleans' Haydel Bakery's St. Patrick's Day king cake. 

This leaves Louisiana with one dire question to answer — should king cakes only be eaten during Mardi Gras?

Let me know your thoughts by emailing me at [email protected]. 

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Email Poet Wolfe at [email protected].