Sometimes, when we buy something made in France, we see a label called “AOP”. What does it mean exactly?
PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN (PDO)
Appellation d'origine protégée/contrôlée (AOP/AOC) means Protected Designation of Origin in English. It is granted by the European Union and the United Kingdom to products which are produced and developed in specific geographical areas. These PDO products also have to be made by respecting the regional know-how, using local producers and ingredients.
CAN ALL PRODUCTS BE LABELLED WITH AOP?
Not all can use the AOP label. Certain types of products can apply for it when their characteristics are linked to their geographical origins. Cheeses, wines, sausages, hams, and beers are some of the types. Take the Organic AOP Compté Cheese, Onion & Millet Seed Crackers as an example, the cheese comes from Franche-Comté, a historical region in eastern France. It is a type of hard cheese made of cow's milk, cooked and pressed during the making process to ensure the cheesy flavour.
THE AOP CRITERIA ARE QUITE HARSH!
Another example is the AOP Espelette Pepper & Flaxseed Crackers. They are made using the famous dried red peppers from the French commune called Espelette located in the southwest of France. It rains a lot in spring and is very hot in summer, but the rest of the year is relatively mild, making it the ideal climate for the growth of chilli peppers. These red peppers are the only spice that is labelled with AOP, helping to add a spicy flavour to wake your appetite up.
But the location is not all! For the peppers to be labelled AOP, there are other criteria. Some are quite harsh …
Peppers must be harvested ripe by hand;
The size should measure from 7cm to 14cm and they should be in conical shape;
They must dry naturally for at least 15 days;
No preservatives or artificial colourings can be added;
The aromatic intensity can be smelled;
The intensity of spiciness can be tasted.
Additionally, if one of these criteria is not met, the lot will not be granted the label. Therefore, when you do see some AOP labelled products, you know they are of quality and authenticity. After all, why use an AOP ingredient if you just want to make something average?
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