The Best French Products and Flavours to Enjoy This Spring (Recipes Included!)

Top French Products for Spring Recipes 

🌿 Fruits & Veggies – French Asparagus, Strawberries, and Sweet Onion 

The early days of spring bring some of the most anticipated yearly produce to the table—cue fresh strawberries, beloved asparagus, and pungent sweet onions perfect for adding to a variety of recipes. One of the most popular examples? Nîmes strawberries, cultivated between the areas of Provence and Camargue. Tiny and flavor packed, these highly desired varieties, namely Gariguettes and Ciflorettes, begin to hit shelves in March. Enjoy solo or use in your favorite dessert recipes (we’ve got a few ideas below).  

Around the same time, savory French Asparagus begins to make an appearance, marking the unofficial arrival of the spring season. Available in a variety of colours, including White Landes Asparagus PDO, French asparagus is beloved for its herbaceous flavours and culinary versatility. Rich in antioxidants, fiber, and Vitamin B, these firm green veggies especially come to life when prepared with the contrasting sweetness of seasonal onions from the Cévennes PDO. Cultivated on terraced hillsides in the ​​Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes, these beloved veggies are known for their signature juiciness and sweetness, adding an extra pop of flavour to recipes of all kinds.  

🧀 Dairy Products – Sainte Maure de Touraine PDO & Valencay 

Goat cheese and French cuisine go hand in hand, especially when it comes to seasonal spring recipes—enter Sainte Maure de Touraine PDO & Valencay Cheese PDO, two pungent picks from the Centre-Val de Loire. Sainte Maure de Touraine received its official PDO designation in 1996 and is easily identified by its blue-hued ash surface and creamy texture that becomes more nutty and pronounced over time. 

💡 Fun fact: The cheese is pierced with a signature rye straw prior to salting, ashing, and ripening for a minimum of eight days.  

Similarly, Valencay cheese received its PDO designation just two years after Sainte Maure de Touraine, and also boasts a light gray to bluish-gray rind. However, this specific cheese is distinguished by its truncated pyramid, and is aged for slightly longer at 11 days. Like Sainte Maure de Touraine, this creamy cheese becomes firmer and nuttier over time. 

💡 Pro tip: Remove both cheeses from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to serving for maximum enjoyment.  

🥩 Meats & Fish – Sisteron Lamb PGI Label Rouge & Breton Blue Lobster 

Beyond groceries and cheeses, the arrival of seasonal spring proteins are equal cause for delight. The most popular spring meat, Sisteron Lamb PGI Label Rouge, hails from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and is synonymous with Easter dinners; however, its delights go far beyond single-day celebrations. Boasting both a Label Rouge and PGI, these meticulously regulated lambs are raised via very strict specifications, ensuring that their meat remains light coloured, tender, and pleasantly mild. For example, the ewes are required to hail from one of three authorized breeds (Mérinos d’Arles, Mourérous and Préalpes du Su), and are required to graze for a minimum of six months out of the year to ensure proper nutrition and development.  

For non-meat eaters, the arrival of Breton Blue Lobster is equally exciting. Hailing from France’s western Atlantic coast, this “king of crustaceans” is known for its firm texture and sweet, briny flavours, making it a go-to pick for thermidors, bisques, and other recipes alike. 

💡 Fun fact: These incredible creatures have two claws and five pairs of walking legs, and can reach between 30 to 50 centimeters in length! 

🍓 Sweets – Focus on Fraises 

As the days of heavier winter walnuts and chestnut creams come to an end, the spring season brings on a lighter, brighter take on desserts. The distinct combination of Nímes strawberries and Tahitian Vanilla create a myriad of seasonal options, including Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tart (see below for recipe), and Strawberry and Basil Charlotte—don’t forget the Charentes-Poitou Butter PDO and/or Isigny Crème Fraîche & Bresse Crème Fraîche PDO, according to the recipes at hand!  

🍽️ 5 French Recipes to Discover This Spring 

Asparagus Salad and Crottin de Chavignol 

For a go-to French lunch that meshes seasonal produce with spring cheeses, look no further than this flavour-packed salad. Made with warm asparagus and tangy goat cheese, this easy-to-make salad is as healthy as it is filling (and can equally be enjoyed as a healthy side of veggies at dinner!) For an added dose of greens, simply add a bed of your favourite lettuce below the asparagus et voilà.  

Buckwheat Crêpes Brunch Style 

The idea of preparing crêpes at home may seem daunting, though rest assured, our expert chefs swear that these thin buckwheat delights are easier to make than classic American pancakes. For those who enjoy the savory side of brunch, fill your crêpe with asparagus and spinach, then top with a poached egg for good measure.  

Clafoutis with White Asparagus and Emmental Cheese  

Although clafoutis is generally synonymous with fruits and dessert, this savoury version will have you hooked from the beginning. Made with seasonal White Landes Asparagus PDO and Emmental de Savoie PGI, this cheesy side dish promises to please even the most skeptical of asparagus lovers, thanks to its belly-warming flavours and signature creamy texture.  

Easter Roast Leg of Sisteron Lamb 

Who says roast leg of lamb is designated solely for Easter consumption? With meat this good, carnivores will take delight in this flavour-packed recipe all season long. Prepared with Drôme White Garlic PGI, rosemary, laurel, and Fleur de sel de Guérande sea salt PGI, this herbaceous main course promises to leave a lasting impression (and its leftovers are perfect for utilizing in easy-to-make lamb wraps with mint sauce for lunch the next day!)  

Strawberry and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tart 

Who says dessert and wine pairings need to be separate entities? With this unique sweet tart, pairing fresh strawberries and Châteauneuf-du-Pape PDO wine has never been easier. Original and one of a kind, this unique fruit-based dessert promises to finish your meal on a high note, and also makes for a luxurious, ‘treat yourself’ breakfast the following morning (we won’t tell!) 

🍷 Top French Wine Pairings for Spring  

No early spring day is complete without a solid bottle of wine. As the days get a bit warmer, wine enthusiasts everywhere can take delight in swapping out heavier winter reds for brighter whites, rosés, and lighter-bodied reds. Sauvignon Blanc-based whites from the Touraine PDO are a match made in heaven with asparagus and seasonal goat cheeses, whereas the vibrant acidity and approachable tannins found in the Pinot Noir-based reds from Bourgogne PDO are perfect for pairing with Sisteron Lamb PGI Label Rouge.