Discover and savour our local specialities with the "100% Valeurs du Sud" label

A land of sunshine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur overflows with fruit and vegetables that have forged the renown of Provence’s colourful food markets. From the Mediterranean shores to Mont Ventoux, you’ll find a plethora of produce here, ranging from mouthwatering fruit such as peaches, nectarines, strawberries and apricots, to apples, pears and plums from the orchards of the Luberon, Alpilles and Ventoux, and even delicious Charentais melon grown in Camargue. Not forgetting our sun-kissed vegetables, including heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, aubergines, sweet peppers and more. A host of top produce to savour fresh or magicked into cordials, jams, chutneys, soups and sauces! On the novelty front, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur also produces microgreens – tiny sprouts of aromatic plants, flowers or vegetables that are chock-a-block with flavour and nutritional properties.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur’s huge variety of flora and natural areas makes it a favourite haunt for bees, beekeepers and, of course, foodies! From heather honey to rosemary honey, chestnut honey and the must-have lavender honey, we truly have something for every taste! You’ll even find a “Miel de Provence” PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) here: thanks to the seasonal transhumance of our beehives, the local bees enjoy the region’s blooms in every season. Various producers also offer honey-based products such as nougat, gingerbread and the traditional “navette” biscuits, while others specialize in royal jelly and propolis. Our southern flora also features many aromatic plants and superior-quality Herbes de Provence made with oregano, savory, rosemary, basil and marjoram, or the famous “Thym de Provence” PGI, unveiling powerful aromas redolent with scents of the sun-drenched Provençal garrigue. Meanwhile, perfume plants and citrus fruit are the stars of the Côte d’Azur: Centifolia rose and orange blossom are used to produce hydrosols, while citrus fruit (lemons, oranges, grapefruit) are transformed into jams or refreshing aperitif drinks.

A genuine symbol of the Mediterranean terroir, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur’s olive oil is crafted by local and often family-run producers – many organic – who pride in excellence and unrivalled expertise in Provençal agriculture. The region’s expansive palette of olive oils also owes its diversity to our many varieties of olives: salonenque, aglandau, grossane, verdale and picholine, to name but a few. Olive oil from the Vallée des Baux-de-Provence in the Alpilles is particularly reputed and benefits from a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) label. It is divided into two main flavour families: fruity green olive oils with aromas of artichoke, freshly-mown grass or citrus fruit, and fruity ripe olive oils, conjuring up hazelnuts, truffles or dates. And if you want to branch out, some producers also offer vegetable oils made with cameline, safflower or sunflower!

Calling all wine buffs! No holiday in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur would be complete without tasting the fine wines of the southern Rhône Valley – in particular, of course, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP wines crafted with a blend of grapes from diverse terroirs: the famous rounded pebbles, sands, red sandstone and rocky limestone. And not forgetting our biodynamic wines! Grown on plots tucked between Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail, they honour the natural rhythm of the soil, vine and harvest and enjoy a conducive climate swept by the Mistral and southern winds, which chase away moisture and prevent disease. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur’s many varieties of aromatic plants are also used to produce delicious liqueurs ranging from the famous genepi, quince, raspberry, mint and thyme to the very novel hyssop, larch flower, saffron and yellow birch… In the Haute-Provence area, you’ll find local craft beer producers too (Blonde Ale, Amber Ale, Tripel, IPA and Wheat Beer) and even producers of malt for breweries and distilleries.

From goats to bulls, the plains and pastures of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur nourish a vast array of top-quality livestock. Curate a mouthwatering cheese platter with Bleu du Queyras, Raclette, Bêlicieux or cheese from ewes raised according to the purest pastoral traditions. You’ll also find 100% local milk here, alongside creamy yoghurts, cream cheese and a plethora of milk drinks. On the meat front, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur offers a wonderful variety of terrines and saucissons exalting local plants and mushrooms: thyme, juniper, genepi, hazelnut, wild garlic, and morel, chanterelle and porcini mushrooms… Regional pork is top of the podium, but you’ll also find terrines made with wild boar or bull meat. And of course, you’ll definitely want to sample or take home some typical southern specialities such as pieds et paquets from Marseille (tripe & trotters), Provençal daube (beef stew), Provençal alouettes sans tête (braciola), gardianne de taureau (bull beef stew) from Camargue and Provençal tripe.

The local delicatessens are piled high with delicious jams craftedwith sun-soaked Provençal fruit – apricot, fig, strawberry, melon and more – generally made in anold-fashioned cauldron. You’ll find the same fruit in a range of cordials, alongside other natural local flavours such as lavender, thyme and basil. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dry goods too, with treats including chickpeas, lentils, pulses, squash, pasta, grissini, organic cereals and local wheat flour. Not forgetting other surprises you won’t want to miss, such as spirulina, ready-to-serve dishes, vegetable preserves and even zero waste biscuits made with surplus fruit, vegetables or malted cereals used to make beer. In short, if you’re travelling to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, don’t forget to bring an extra bag!