8 tasty treats to try in Calvados

Calvados isn’t just about cider and that eponymous apple brandy. Aside from the apple orchards, you’ll find dairy farms and fishing ports, alongside lesser-known but equally superb products waiting to be savoured…

BUTTER, CREAM AND CHEESE

Normandy’s holy trinity: butter, cream and cheese. On the AOP Cheese Route, you’ll meet breeders, producers and cheesemakers who’ll reveal the secrets behind Pont-l’Évêque, Livarot and beurre d’Isigny. Fancy a tour? Head to the Graindorge dairy to see Livarot and Pont-l’Évêque come to life. Plus, there’s no shortage of shops and restaurants celebrating these local stars.

CALVADOS

No trip to Calvados is complete without trying calvados. Explore the Christian Drouin distillery, tucked away in charming 17th-century half-timbered buildings in the heart of the Pays d’Auge. Or visit La Spiriterie Française, a distillery surrounded by ancient trees where rum and whisky are made alongside calvados. Enjoy a guided tour and a sound-and-light show in the ageing cellar.

SEAFOOD

Calvados coastlines are a seafood lover’s dream. Think oysters, scallops and fresh fish straight from the boats. Buy from local fishermen at the department’s five fishing ports (Grandcamp-Maisy, Port-en-Bessin-Huppain, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Ouistreham, Trouville-sur-Mer) or hit the scallop festivals, which are held from October to December and feature scallop-themed menus, markets, cooking demos and trawler visits in a truly gastronomic celebration of the sea.

ANDOUILLE DE VIRE

This traditional pork sausage comes from the Vire region and is seasoned with salt, pepper and spices and smoked over beech wood, giving it its distinctive flavour. With a smoky, tangy taste and chewy texture, it’s best sliced thinly and served with crusty bread and a glass of cider. Visit Maison Asselot to see how this traditional delicacy is made and indulge in a dégustation.

ISIGNY CARAMELS

Sweet-toothed travellers, get set! Head to Isigny-sur-Mer where the Isigny Sainte-Mère cooperative offers tours showing how the famous artisanal caramels are crafted using the renowned local butter and cream. Flavours include salted butter, coffee, hazelnut and, you guessed it, calvados. Tastings are obligatory…

FLORE NORMAN TEA

Flore Norman creates Normandy-inspired teas and delicious infusions featuring locally-sourced ingredients. Try Black Tea with Apples and Calvados, a genius blend combining Ceylon tea, apples and 3% Calvados, or Green Tea with Apples, Pears, Caramel and Calvados. Now that’s what we call a cuppa!

BALSAPOM

Maison Boissel’s Apple Balsamic condiment marries balsamic vinegar and apples. It’s sweet, tangy and just the thing that’s been missing from your kitchen shelf. Made from reduced apple must and cider vinegar, it’s a salad game-changer..

BLANC DE POMME

Blanc de Pomme is a still cider crafted with all the finesse and elegance of a fine wine. Made at Domaine Dupont in the heart of the Pays d’Auge, it’s crisp, elegant and makes the perfect tipple for summer, with its buttery aromas. hints of pineapple, tangy apple notes and mineral finish. Serve it chilled with grilled fish, oysters or light cheeses.

Find out more at calvados-tourisme.co.uk

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Lead photo credit : Produits_gourmands_Calvados©Image_in_France_Calvados_Attractivite