BUTTER
CHARENTES POITOU
RECOGNIZED AOP EN 1979
The Beginnings of Butter in Poitou-Charentes
The history of Charentes Poitou Butter dates back to the Middle Ages. Even then, the region was renowned for the quality of its milk and dairy products.
Monks from local abbeys played a crucial role in the development of butter-making techniques, passing down their expertise through the generations.
Recognition of Quality
In the 19th century, the region's butter began to stand out on Parisian markets. Thanks to the quality of the milk produced by cows fed mainly in the fields, producers
Poitou Charentes butter producers gained an enviable reputation. It was at this time that production methods began to be standardized to guarantee consistent quality.
THE BIRTH OF AOP
A PROTECTED DESIGNATION
In 1979, Beurre Charentes Poitou obtained the status of AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée), a national recognition that certifies the origin and quality of the product. This appellation imposes strict rules regarding production, including
the origin of the milk, the manufacturing methods, and even the conditions in which the cows are raised.
PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN (PDO)
1996 in the Charentes-Poitou Butter obtains the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), a European recognition that replaces and strengthens the AOC. This distinction guarantees not only the geographical origin, but also compliance with rigorous specifications. The PDO protects the product against imitations and ensures consistent quality for consumers.
The characteristics
Charentes Poitou AOP Butter
THE TERROIR
Le AOP Charentes Poitou Butter owes its quality to several factors. The region's terroir, with its rich meadows and calcareous soils, produces high-quality grass that constitutes
the main feed for dairy cows. This natural and varied diet contributes to the richness and complexity of the butter's aromas.
KNOW-HOW
Le Échiré butter is made using traditional methods, including slow churning and maturing of the cream for 16 hours, which allows subtle aromas to develop.
and a creamy texture. Producers still use artisanal methods, although modernized, to guarantee the quality and authenticity of the product.
Le Charentes Poitou AOP Butter is much more than just a dairy product. It is the result of a long history of traditions and know-how, rooted in an exceptional terroir. The AOP recognition guarantees not only the quality and origin of the product, but also the preservation of ancestral production methods, thus ensuring that each piece of butter carries within it a piece of the history and terroir of Poitou-Charentes.
