European food and drink reflect the continent’s cultural diversity and rich lands. EU geographical indication schemes protect specific know how, authenticity and agro-environmental conditions.
Geographical indications include protected geographical indications (PGI) and protected designations of origins (PDO). These schemes protect the name of a product that comes from a specific region and follows a particular traditional production process.
For PDOs, the raw ingredients need to come from the region of origin where all steps of production need to take place. As for PGIs, at least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the region.
The hardy, nutrient rich grasses found in the salt meadows of the Wadden Sea region give Vadehavslam PGI its distinctly salty and delicious taste.
Alho da Graciosa PGI garlic is characterised by its medium-low intensity aroma, even uncrushed.
Lauded for its unique aromatic profile, the production of Vanille de l’île de La Réunion PGI has been perfected with local expertise over 200 years.
On the Slovenian coast, Piranska Sol PDO has been produced using the same traditional methods for 700 years.
Made with milk from Dutch dairy farms, Gouda Holland PGI and Noord-Hollandse Gouda PDO are famous for their full flavours.
Daujėnų naminė duona PGI is a dark Lithuanian rye bread, produced by home kitchens in the village of Daujėnai.
Pêra Rocha do Oeste PDO is a sweet pear, plucked from the west coast of Portugal.
Turrón de Alicante PGI and Turrón de Jijona PGI are nougat confectionaries from southern Spain, brimming with the sun-soaked sweetness of almonds and honey
Once a festive favourite of Saxon royalty, Dresdner Christstollen PGI is a handcrafted fruit and nut loaf, coated in butter and suffused with spices.
The tender and sweet flavour of Asperges du Blayais PGI is very distinctive and makes them a very special vegetable delicacy produced in south-west France.
Cornicabra olive is the only variety used to make Montes de Toledo PDO oil, which originates from the Montes de Toledo hills in Spain.
Allgäuer Bergkäse PDO is a German cheese made from raw cheese-making milk in the Allgäu region in Bavaria and neighbouring Baden-Württemberg.
Strandzhanski manov med PDO is a dark brown honey, sweet and runny, drawn from the oak forests of the Strandzha massif.
Smoky and sweet, Suska sechlońska PGI is a traditional variety of prune, made from plums dried in the fire-heated kilns of southern Poland.
Made from whole fresh hind legs of pork, Kraški pršut PGI is dried and salted in the Karst plateau of south-western Slovenia.
Pleasant, mellow, and tangy, Telemea de Sibiu PGI is a traditional Romanian cheese made from fresh sheep’s milk.
Rooted in the history of Verona and famed for its distinctive texture and taste, this eminent Italian rice is perfect for risottos.
From the legendary site of Aphrodite’s sacred gardens comes a burst of sweet colours and flavours.
The sweet golden split peas of Fava Santorinis PDO are harvested on a small group of islands in the South Aegean Sea.
Belgium’s Jambon d’Ardenne PGI owes its characteristic flavour to the Ardennes microclimate, which is perfect for producing this ham.
The specific orange shade of the roe of Kalix Löjrom PDO is what sets this Swedish speciality apart.
Gyulai kolbász or Gyulai pároskolbász PGI is a Hungarian sausage, which comes with a fascinating story and a pleasantly smoky and spicy fragrance.
Estonian vodka GI is a spirit drink produced in Estonia using ethyl alcohol obtained from rye, wheat and/or potatoes grown in this country.
Wild chicory’s journey from roadside flower to Radicchio Rosso di Treviso PGI is one of careful breeding, innovation and artisanship.
Porcelaine white with a creamy texture cheese, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO is only produced with the fresh milk of water buffalos.
Made with flaky pastry and with a dark brown crust, Geraardsbergse mattentaarten PGI are a traditional Flemish specialty.
Drawn from wells sunk deep into the rock beneath the city, the famous quality of Munich beer draws over 6 million people to the city each year.
One of the most famous Italian wines, Chianti PDO is known across the globe.
Nutty flavours. An ivory golden colour. Comté PDO is no ordinary hard cheese.
Who hasn’t heard of Prosciutto di Parma PDO? An aged raw Italian ham found in most Italian delis or restaurants.
One of the world’s oldest spirits, Irish whiskey has been distilled in Ireland since the 6th Century.
Bordeaux wines enjoy a reputation for excellence, achieved through centuries of experience and the conditions of the region where the grapes are grown.
Krokos Kozanis PDO a saffron known for its particularly high quality colour and strong flavour.
Salty and slightly acidic, Feta PDO is a cheese with a history as rich as its taste.
