This is one of my favorite Corsican words, one that shares the same root in multiple languages (including English, French and Italian) and the one word that most often comes to mind when I visit the island.

Wines

Corsica has nine wine growing regions, grouped under four AOC labels, producing a variety of white, red, rose and muscat wines that have earned recognition as well as numerous awards in Europe. At least three beers and numerous tasty liquors of citron, myrtle, chestnut and other flavors are also produced in Corsica.

Honeys

The maquis of Corsica is an endemic evergreen bush that covers about half of the island, whose scented oils can be felt all year long even in the dry summer season.

With more than 2800 botanical species, the greatest variety found in all of the Mediterranean, Corsica’s vegetation provides local bees a unique blend of oils and nectars to produce honeys with a complex mix of bittersweet flavors and a lingering after taste.

Since ancient Roman times, Corsica has been known as a honey and bees wax producer. Today, this production reaches 200 tons per year keeping beekeepers and their flying partners real busy. Sweet Abbundanza !

Cheeses

Brocciu is a soft, fresh cheese made with goat and/or sheep’s milk and a key ingredient in the island’s gastronomy. It takes about eleven liters of milk to obtain enough whey to produce one kilo of Brocciu. Once produced, this cheese must be consumed quickly, in contrast with other Corsica cheeses. Brocciu is eaten with fruit, sprinkled with sugar or liqueur. It is also used in omelettes, or as stuffing in cannelloni and other pasta dishes. This cheese is only produced from November through May.

AOC

Many of these products carry the prestigious AOC label, (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée), a form of quality designation guaranteeing that a product complies with rigorous standards and manufacturing processes. This designation applies to wines, honeys, cheeses and other agricultural goods but numerous food products and excellent wines can be found in Corsica that don’t carry the AOC label and are just as delicious and wholesome.

Water

In addition to these fine food products, abundant water sources and fountains can be seen in many parts of Corsica. The island produces a mineral water with gas (Orezza) and two regular spring waters (Zilia and St. Georges).

There are other gastronomical treasures to discover and feast on: Artisanal home made chesses, charcuterie, olive oil, fruit preserves, pastries and delicious fresh seafood. We’ll explore some of these in a future post.

Filed under: Gastronomy