Honey and jam producers France

In collaboration with Patrick Fouquet, master jam maker world champion 2018, Janick Paytra launches in his turn in the making of artisanal jams. He participates for the first time in 2019 in the Confituriades and obtains the gold medal of the Order of Master Jammakers. Janick prepares his jams in his workshop/shop and sources as much as possible in short circuit: mirabelle plums from his village, strawberries from Dordogne, apricots from Roussillon, kiwis from Lot-et-Garonne... A nice souvenir to bring back from Saint-Emilion, to change the wine!

Professional beekeepers with recognized expertise, Jean-Claude and Corine Salles perpetuate a traditional art by transhumantly moving their hives from the Basque mountains to the hillsides of Béarn, harvesting true "crus de la nature", representing floral diversity. At their honey house, they extract, select and refine honeys for bouquets ranging from the sweetest - acacia-horsetail flowers - to the most distinctive, chestnut, and also make heather honey gingerbread and artisanal jams according to the traditional recipes of Amatxi (Basque for grandmother).

The world-famous gooseberry jam with quill pen has been the pride of the Barisiens since 1344. This house, founded in 1879 by Mr. Amiable, was bought in 1974, with its manufacturing secrets, by the family of Anne Dutriez, your hostess. Alongside red, white and pink currant jams, you will discover a range of specialities from Lorraine: syrups, juices, local beers and wines, spices, herbal teas... And also: natural cosmetics, mead, etc.

At the exit of Bagnères-de-Luchon, the Miellerie des Sept Molles is a honey producer since the beginning of the 60s with more than 700 hives. You can visit, discover the job and a store offers all the products of the hive: pollen, royal jelly, gingerbread, propolis-based products... And of course honey in different varieties: all flowers, acacia, rosemary, mountain, forest, sunflower, heather and rhododendron... A visit as cultural as tasty.

Bertrand Héraudeau has been running this family business for a short time. Trained as a pastry chef, he never ceases to put his qualities forward to the point of obtaining, in 2018, the title of best jam maker in France. Rétais and tourists are not mistaken, they are many to make a stop in this shop located two steps from the bell tower. Each product is carefully made, without chemicals or preservatives. The quality is such that each year several are awarded.

L'Hôtel du Pont Vieux is not only a charming hotel, ideally located for enjoying the wonders of the medieval city of Carcassonne. It is also committed to promoting good regional products, and has a grocery corner. This is where you'll find Catherine's wonderful jams, under the name "Confitures de la cité". While the packaging is elegant, don't hesitate to remove the lid to taste them: salted butter caramel, apple jelly with spices, kiwi from Cuxac d'Aude... with a steady stream of new flavors.

The Rucher de la Colline de Ferdrupt offers delicious honeys harvested in Eastern France (Vosges, Haute-Saône and Alsace). All honeys are cold extracted to preserve all their qualities and flavors. The Rucher de la Colline works only in short circuit, from the producer to the consumer, to guarantee an authentic product. The mountain honey has even received a "coup de coeur" from the jury during the Vosges Terroir contest. The apiary also offers gift boxes and baskets. The home-made gingerbread is also delicious.

It is the oldest family business producing preserved fruit in France. Since 1921, 4 generations of the Beyer family have succeeded each other at the head of the Alsatian company. Thanks to the quality of its products and its traditional know-how, it offers different products such as jams and fruit preserves. Its latest innovation? Fruit spreads With 96% fruit, this range was awarded the Social and Societal Innovation prize. It is the ^first range of Nutriscore A products in the jam section!

Beekeeper Julien Compagnon produces honey and pollen from his local hives, as well as gingerbread, nougats, candies and cosmetics. His "workers" have made a name for themselves, earning the "Made in Jura" label. But these exceptional products are not the only ones to win awards, as was the case at the Concours Général Agricole 2023, with a double silver medal for fir and mountain honey.

A Abeille d'or has been stinging our sweet tooth for... over a century! The fourth generation of the Chabert family with Laure, who selects renowned French beekeepers, offers honeys served by the spoonful in 1 kg, 500 g or 250 g jars, at affordable prices for remarkable quality. All hive products and their benefits: propolis, royal jelly, pollen... Wax, candles, honeyed treats and beekeeping equipment. L'Abeille d'Or combines well-being and gourmet delights.

In the heart of the village of Lavaudieu, Jocelyne Chopart excels in her field. A beekeeper by profession, she will share her passion with you through the products she offers (honeys but also various delicacies made from honey and forest fruits). She also allows you to discover her job and her collaborators within "La Maison de l'Abeille"; photos, equipment and tasting to support it. Let yourself be tempted by all these products! Friends of nature, you who want to stay healthy: Jocelyne is organic.

Bees are inexorably disappearing in France: the fault lies with pesticides, certain parasites and the Asian Hornet. In the heart of the Pays Welsche, Benoît Parmentier works to preserve the beekeeping world. He thus raises bees in a preserved environment, in 5-star hives nicely decorated with bright colours that brighten up the surrounding nature. Benoît elaborates various varieties of honey that seduce the taste buds with their refined flavours and soft textures. To be discovered on site or at the boutique of the hotel Les Alisiers in Lapoutroie.

The best jams are made by Philippe Bruneton. Member of the Collège Culinaire de France, elected Meilleur Confiturier de France. This enthusiast is as demanding in his selection of fruit, sourced from the region's small producers - starting with apples from Pilat - as he is in his working methods, using more fruit than sugar. The jams are available in a range of collections, including Fruits et Chocolat, made with Weiss chocolate. Culinary aids, fruit pastes, coulis, syrups... More than jams, real desserts.

Lime, lavender, acacia, fir, chestnut, heather... Chantal and Michel Carton, these bee enthusiasts, send their hives to different parts of France to find these subtle scents. This couple of beekeepers also produces wax, royal jelly and pollen. In addition, you will learn more about this fascinating world of bees by tasting their gingerbread, honey sweets, mead, nougat or jams.

Ballot-Flurin has been an independent, family-run business since 1977, specializing in apitherapy and gentle beekeeping. Discover their rare honeys from free-living bees, and their products based on propolis, pollen and royal jelly. Ballot-Flurin is the assurance of natural health, thanks to the power of bees. Our cosmetics (shampoos, soaps, creams) are also based on the work of bees. The boutique also offers candle-making workshops. An original and useful visit.

The Confiserie Bressaude is an institution in the Vosges landscape. Opened since 1994, the confectionery has a recognized know-how since it is one of the 15 most visited companies in France. During the visits, you will discover the artisanal manufacture of the various products, in the heart of the trade. At the end of the tour, you will go to the shop to stock up on sweets. Food lovers will be delighted to see that in addition to sweets, many other products are available such as gingerbread, chouchous or jams.

Elfe d'aquí is Sylvie and her traditional or new jams and preserves, of the seasons, made with local fruits, plants and flowers. We love her elderberry or dandelion flower jellies, the touch of thyme, rosemary or wild thyme that perfume her jams. If she practices wild harvesting, she also obtains from local producers, in sweet wines for example, for her muscat or banyuls confits. And its banana or mango jams are flavoured with a local ingredient all the same? Poetry in a jar.

A la Ruche is the passion of good taste from father to son for 30 years. The old school turned shop is a beautiful Ali Baba's cave where Vincent will make you discover a wide range of honeys and about fifteen products derived from honey: vinegar, mead, spread... The gingerbread made and baked on the spot every day is a real treat. It can be tasted, just like the nougatines or the fruit juices, on the terrace, in the shade of the mulberry tree, on the very pretty Place de l'Ecole in the heart of this astonishing medieval village which remains lively in summer and winter.

This grouping of 14 honey producers from the department is a great idea. In turn, the co-operators come to run the shop in this brand new building where the honeys of our department are on sale. Chestnut, rhododendron, thyme, garrigue honey, the list is long. But much more than a simple point of sale, a guided tour will make you aware of the beekeeping techniques from the extraction of honey to the potting and the role of bees for our life on earth.