Ardèche Chestnuts PDO

Chestnuts are a traditional crop in the French department of Ardèche and flourish in the area's acidic soil and upland climate. Local varieties, including Comballe, Marigoule, Précoce Ronde des Vans, Bouche Rouge, and Sardonne chestnuts, all of which offer a distinctive taste profile, are grown in registered and traceable chestnut orchards without chemical fertilizers.  

Chestnuts are either picked up from the ground by hand, at which point they must be removed from their spiky bur, or collected in nets using a vacuum. The chestnuts are then sorted to remove any worm-eaten or misshapen fruit, then graded and packaged. Depending on their grade, they are sold either whole or processed to make flour, cream, purée, jam, or another by-product. 

Ardèche chestnuts can be enjoyed on their own through the many delicious products made from PDO Ardèche chestnuts. They feature the "Châtaigne d'Ardèche, la reine des châtaignes" (Ardèche chestnuts, the Queen of Chestnuts) logo, which guarantees that they are grown in Ardèche. The chestnuts are produced and processed according to traditional methods that have been passed down from generation to generation. Some of the many products made with chestnuts include chestnut cream, purée, paste, and jam as well as candied chestnuts and plain-cooked shelled chestnuts (whether jarred or sous-vide), chestnut sorbet, and chestnut liqueur. 

The label "Châtaigne d'Ardèche  AOP" (Appellation d'Origine Protégée / Protected Destination of Origin) is granted to three products: fresh chestnuts, dried chestnuts (shelled and dried), and chestnut flour (produced from dried chestnuts).