Description
The Mâche Nantaise PGI is a small, rapidlygrowing plant, of the Valerianacee family, of the genus Valerianella and the species Olitoria. It is also known as lamb's lettuce, field salad and corn salad.
Production Area
The production area of the Mâche Nantaise PGI includes part of the Loire-Atlantique department - except 13 cantons in the north-east part of the department - eight cantons of the Vendée department and two cantons of the Maine-et-Loire department, in the Pays-de-la-Loire region.
Production Method
After the farming phase, that is carried out on beds, cover the superficial layer with sand, river sand from the Loire and its estuary is used, which is round and nubby and is suitable to plant growth. They are protected with a plastic cover. After harvesting, the product is selected according to a common reference system for quality recognition. After that, the product must be carefully washed since it is not suitable for marketing in natural state.
Appearance and Flavour
The Mâche Nantaise PGI has sessile leaves; that is, without stalks, long, spoon-shaped leaves, deeply veined, forking in pairs superposed at right angles to form a fairly tight rosette.
History
The origins of the Mâche Nantaise PGI date back to the 19th century and are related to horticultural tradition of Nantes. Over the past 15 years, the reputation of the product has strengthened thanks to a careful policy as regards farmers who have activated major collective promotion actions.
Gastronomy
The Mâche Nantaise PGI is easily perishable and it is preserved for a few days in its own package in the compartment with greater temperature of refrigerators. It is ready to be used since it was pre-washed before packaging. Tasty salads can be obtained, seasoned with oil and vinegar or yogurt sauce flavoured with chives, together with hazels or almonds, with grated fully-aged cheese and dry fruits dipped in vinegar. In order not to spoil leaves freshness, it is important to prepare the seasoning, add the lettuce and mix at the last moment. Although it is usually consumed raw, sometimes the Mâche Nantaise PGI is sauté quickly in butter or in meat juice and is combined with meat and fish dishes.
Marketing
The product is sold as Mâche Nantaise PGI. It is marketed already washed ready to be used, in bags or in plastic dishes or bowls, in order to avoid that the fragile leaves deteriorate.
Distinctive Features
The temperate maritime climate perfectly adapted to production of Mâche Nantaise PGI and enable optimum specific quality to be obtained all the year round.
