French Culture & Savoir‐Faire

The first wood to obtain protected designation of origin status, Chartreuse Wood is a sign of quality and authenticity. Renowned for its resistance and solidness for several centuries, this construction wood, produced from pine and spruce trees, is also part of an initiative of preserving the territory and environment through a well thought-out forest management […]

From the 1880s, the market value of land did not stop dropping. During this period, the average price to purchase a hectare of land dropped by a third. The regions the most impacted were Languedoc and the Mediterranean, as well as Aube and Champagne, while Brittany did alright. Taken together, this represented a complete rout […]

The cider of Brittany is a drink that is truly emblematic of this coastal region of northwest France. It is made from a selective choice of cider apples and presents fine bubbles and a light foam. The apples come from varieties that range from bitter, bittersweet, tart, or sweet and must be produced in the […]

In the confines of Champagne and Burgundy regions, Chaource, a cheese benefitting from protected designation of origin status, has cross the centuries thanks to a tradition firmly anchored in its terroir. It is presented today in its finest trappings: a white and fluffy crust that melts easily and aromas of cream and mushroom with a […]

Alsace Sauerkraut (Choucroute d’Alsace in French) is a traditional sauerkraut dish and a staple of Alsace cuisine, made using a natural cabbage fermentation process. It is often paired with red meat, fish, beer or white wine from its native Alsace region, in eastern France along the border with Germany. Alsace Sauerkraut is a very well-known […]

On the Cotentin peninsula on the English Channel (in the Normandy region), subject to the most powerful tides in Europe, Cotentin cider carries with it the strength of its birthplace. Non-carbonated, unpasteurized, this authentic, full-bodied and slightly sweet cider displays its nature with the characteristic taste of the sea, punctuated by the subtlest hints of […]

The French agency in charge of managing geographic indications has just released its report highlighting the organization’s activity for 2017. The French National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) is a public agency of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food, that for more than 80 years has been in charge of managing and protecting […]

The Queen Victoria Pineapple is smaller than African and South American pineapples, but has a deliciously fragrant taste. It is harvest ripe on the French island territory of Réunion in the Indian Ocean from December to January, and then sent by plane to mainland France. In that ways, it doesn’t lose any of its flavors […]

On May 12, the Embassy of France in the United States once again opened its doors to the public and, as always, French agriculture and food took center stage. The Agriculture Department, with the generous help of volunteers, spoke with visitors about French agriculture and, of course, shared a generous amount of fine French cheese, […]

Traditionally called by a variety of names, including notably Lambig, Fine Bretagne, gwinardant, odivi or labout, the Cider-based eau de vie produced in Brittany is made by distilling cider and has about 40% alcohol content. Coming from the traditional orchards of Brittany, rich in its multiple varieties of bitter, sweet and acidic apple ciders, it […]