Provencal Thyme...its the Right Thyme!
Provencal Thyme joins the ranks of foods that have protected status
Amongst the other 'protected' foods are Niçois olives, camembert cheese, champagne and of course from the region, the Provencal lavender.
Granting this herb protected status, ensures that only thyme grown using traditional methods in designated areas of Provence can be sold under the name.
Guaranteeing the reputation and quality of the product is what prompted the decision by France’s National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO). According to reports in La Provence, this protected area will encompass the Var, Vaucluse and Bouches du Rhône and include parts of the Alpes de Haute Provence, Hautes Alpes, Drome, Ardèche and Gard regions.
Thyme is an iconic product of the Provence region, although it should be noted that it is different from the so-called "soft" or gardeners thyme. "Originally, thyme was indeed used mainly in Provence. Speaking historically thyme was widely consumed for its aromatic qualities but also from experience as a bactericide that allowed peopleto maintain proper sanitary conditions for meat "said the INAO.
The INAO is a public institution that sits under the Ministry of Agriculture, food and forestry. By the Law on Agriculture of January 5, 2006, the INAO is responsible for the implementation of the French policy on products bearing official identification marks of origin and quality.
Since the creation of INAO in 1935 to protect the status of French wines, the institute has blossomed and now maintains the protection of hundreds of products across the country. The organisation ensures that protected products must be produced in a traditional manner in precise geographical areas.
A lot of INAO protected products also come under the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin scheme and it is hoped that Provençal thyme will follow suit. Provence is already in possession of a European Union protected product with its lavender oil.
