TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best French Butter Types
Beurre d'Isigny is a butter made from pasteurized milk and cream in the Veys Bay and surrounding valleys in France. No additional colorings, creams or substances can be added to the product. The butter is golden yellow in color due to the high amounts of carotenoids in it.
The Veys Bay and the surrounding area are made of chalky, clay soil near the sea and have top quality pastures where the grass is very rich in iodine and beta-carotene. The soil and pastures give the milk a unique taste, color and high mineral salt content, all of which can be seen and tasted in the final product - d'Isigny Butter.
THE BEST Beurre d'Isigny Butters
Isigny Sainte-Mère
Beurre d'Isigny A.O.P Demi sel Rouleau
Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025
Beurre Charentes-Poitou is a traditionally made, solid, pale butter that has a unique aroma. It is produced using pasteurized cream and easily spreads on toast or bread. Its unique taste and soft texture are due to the traditional process of barrel churning.
After the cream is churned, the fat pieces are damaged and clump together in a mass that separates itself to butter and buttermilk. The butter is rinsed in cold water and shaped to preference. Before being sold, the butter is salted, packaged and chilled.
THE BEST Beurre Charentes-Poitou Butters
Beurre Bordier, or Bordier butter, is a renowned artisan butter from France, produced by Jean-Yves Bordier since 1985. This butter is famous for its exceptional quality, flavor, and texture. What sets Bordier butter apart from many commercial brands is the attention to detail in its production.
The process begins with carefully selected local cream, often sourced from Brittany's small dairy farms. After the cream is cultured and churned, it's hand-kneaded in accordance with the 19th-century method, using traditional wooden paddles to achieve the desired consistency and to work out excess water.
THE BEST Beurre Bordier Butters
Beurre de Bresse is a tender, aromatic, churned butter that melts in the mouth, strikingly yellow, made from matured sweet-cream, its texture is quite smooth and airy, with visible tiny water droplets characteristic for churned butter.
It spreads very easily with a delicate taste of milk and dried fruits such as hazelnuts. The butter is made in the regions of Ain, Jura, and Saône-et-Loire in France, where the cows feed on high-quality pastures, corn and local fodder. It has exceptional baking qualities that give a creamy feel to the baked goods, which is why it is highly favored by chefs and pastry cooks.
THE BEST Beurre de Bresse Butters
Beurre d'écrevisse, also known as crayfish butter, is a rich and flavorful compound butter made from crayfish. This traditional French preparation involves cooking crayfish and incorporating their essence into butter, which is then used to add depth and richness to various dishes.
The process begins with cooking the crayfish in a mixture of butter, vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery, and herbs. After cooking, the crayfish are removed, and their shells are often crushed and further cooked to extract more flavor. The flavorful mixture, including the crayfish shells, is then combined with butter and simmered gently to allow the butter to absorb the crayfish's flavors.
Beurre le Ponclet is a unique artisanal butter produced in Brittany, France. Named after the Ponclet family and produced by the artisan David Akpamagbo, this butter is highly esteemed for its rich flavor, smooth texture, and exceptional quality.
The careful attention to detail in its production process sets le Ponclet butter apart from other types of butter. The butter is produced from the milk of cows that are raised on a diet primarily consisting of local grasses, herbs, and other natural feed and is seasoned with fleur de sel (a type of salt) from Guérande.
THE BEST Beurre le Ponclet Butters
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best French Butter Producers
Maison Bordier is a French company specializing in artisanal butter production and cheese aging, founded in 1985 by Jean-Yves Bordier. Based in Saint-Malo, the company is known for its traditional butter-making methods, including hand-kneading on wooden boards, resulting in a smooth texture and rich flavor.
In addition to classic butter, Maison Bordier offers various flavored varieties, such as butter with seaweed, lemon and olive oil, and Roscoff onion. Their products are highly valued by top chefs and gourmet enthusiasts worldwide. Beyond butter, the company is also involved in the aging of select cheeses, emphasizing high-quality raw ingredients and respect for traditional techniques.
BEST Maison Bordier Butters
BEST Le Ponclet Butters
Rodolphe Le Meunier is a cheese producer and affineur based in Tours, France. He comes from a family with a long tradition in the dairy industry, which has influenced his deep knowledge and expertise in cheese production. Le Meunier has won multiple awards for his work, including the prestigious title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) in the cheese category, an honor given to craftsmen who achieve the highest level of skill in their field.
His business includes aging and refining cheeses, as well as sourcing from various regions in France to offer a diverse selection.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2021
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
BEST Rodolphe Le Meunier Cheeses
Fromagerie Beillevaire is a French company specializing in the production and distribution of dairy products, particularly cheeses. Founded in 1980 by Pascal Beillevaire in the Marais Vendéen region, between the Loire River and the island of Noirmoutier, the company has grown from a family-run dairy into a renowned producer, affineur, and distributor of fine cheeses.
Today, Beillevaire operates six dairies and five aging cellars across France, where they produce and refine a wide range of cheeses, including those with Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) status, such as Camembert de Normandie, Chabichou du Poitou, and Brie de Meaux.
BEST Fromagerie Beillevaire Butters
Isigny Sainte-Mère is a cooperative dairy located in Normandy, France, specializing in producing Camembert cheese, butter, and cream with milk sourced from the local area. The cooperative was established in 1932 and takes advantage of the rich grasses of Normandy, which impart a particular quality and flavor to its dairy products.
Isigny Sainte-Mère also holds a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for some of its products, such as Isigny butter and Isigny cream, ensuring they meet strict geographical and quality criteria.
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2021
BEST Isigny Sainte-Mère Cheeses
Échiré is a French dairy founded in 1894 in the village of Échiré, located in the Marais Poitevin region. It is renowned for producing high-quality butter and dairy products using traditional methods. Their butter, protected by the AOP Charentes-Poitou designation, is highly valued for its exceptional quality, hazelnut notes, and smooth texture. Échiré products are available in over 40 countries and are frequently used in prestigious restaurants and luxury hotels worldwide.
In addition to butter, Échiré also produces premium milk sourced from its region. Their milk is rich and creamy, evoking nostalgic flavors from childhood, making it perfect for breakfast, snacks, or use in gourmet recipes. A strong commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship and maintaining high-quality standards has made Échiré a symbol of excellence in the world of dairy products.
BEST Échiré Butters
Lescure is a renowned French butter producer with a Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) from the Charentes-Poitou region. Founded in 1884 by Baron Léon Lescure, the brand prides itself on a long tradition and dedication to preserving the authentic artisanal approach to butter production.
Lescure butter carries the prestigious AOP Beurre Charentes-Poitou designation, the oldest AOP for butter in France, established in 1979. This certification guarantees that the butter originates from a strictly defined geographical area, covering the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, and Vendée.
BEST Lescure Butters
Laiterie de Pamplie is a renowned French dairy producer with a long-standing tradition and a passion for excellence. Since its founding, the dairy has been distinguished by its commitment to preserving artisanal production methods, passed down through generations, blending tradition with modern quality standards.
Their cultured butter, churned using traditional techniques, is known for its rich texture, mild tangy aroma, and subtle nutty notes, making it an essential ingredient in the kitchens of top restaurants and bakeries. In addition to butter, Laiterie de Pamplie produces a range of premium dairy specialties, relying on the highest quality milk sourced from carefully selected farms that uphold sustainable and ethical farming practices.
BEST Pamplie Butters
Laiterie Etrez Foissiat is a dairy dedicated to preserving traditional production methods while adhering to the highest quality standards. By using only milk from carefully selected local farms, their products embody authenticity and the full flavor of nature.
Among their range, the Beurre de Bresse AOP stands out – a butter with a protected designation of origin, renowned for its creamy texture and rich taste. The dairy is the result of a merger between two historic cooperatives that share a common passion for dairying and a commitment to artisanal practices.
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
BEST Laiterie Coopérative d'Etrez-Foissiat Dairy Products
Paysan Breton is a brand with over 50 years of tradition, founded in 1969 by a group of farmers in Brittany, France. Their goal was to improve dairy production and ensure better conditions for their farms through collective effort. As part of the Laïta cooperative, Paysan Breton takes pride in producing high-quality dairy products using milk from family farms located in Brittany and Pays de la Loire.
Their product range includes traditional butters, Madame Loïk cheese spreads, fermented milk, cheeses, grated cheeses, and Breton pancakes. One of their most renowned products is their traditional butter, recognized for its unique taste and distinctive ridged packaging.
BEST Paysan Breton Butters
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best French Butters
Bordier Salted Butter 4% is a premium artisanal butter with a rich, full-bodied flavor, crafted using traditional methods at the renowned French dairy Maison Bordier. This butter is hand-kneaded on wooden boards, achieving its signature silky texture and unique aroma.
The distinct feature of this variety is its 4% fine salt content, which is evenly distributed throughout the butter, enhancing its natural creamy taste and adding a pronounced salty character. This balance makes it an excellent choice for gourmet pairings and culinary experiments.
Beurre d'Isigny AOP Demi-Sel is a semi-salted butter with a Protected Designation of Origin (AOP), produced in the renowned dairy region of Isigny-sur-Mer. This region, which includes the Cotentin and Bessin areas, is known for its mild climate, abundant rainfall, and rich pastures, all of which contribute to the exceptional quality of the milk used to make this butter.
With its soft and supple texture, Beurre d'Isigny AOP Demi-Sel offers an unparalleled gastronomic experience. Its natural golden-yellow color, rich creamy taste, and perfectly balanced salt content make it an essential ingredient in every kitchen.
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
Beurre d'Isigny AOP Doux Baratte 250g is a premium unsalted butter with a Protected Designation of Origin (AOP), traditionally churned ("baratte" method) in the heart of Normandy. This butter stands out for its creamy texture and rich, nutty flavor, thanks to the careful processing of fresh cream, which undergoes slow fermentation to develop its unique aromas.
With its natural golden-yellow color, Beurre d'Isigny is perfect for spreading on fresh bread, baking, or enhancing fine sauces, delivering an authentic taste of French culinary tradition.
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
Beurre de Baratte aux cristaux de sel de Guérande is a premium semi-salted butter, traditionally churned ("barattage") from cream that has been aged for 18 hours. This process allows the cream to develop a rich, velvety texture and aromatic notes.
The butter is distinguished by its natural golden-yellow color, a reflection of the rich pastures of Normandy. This exceptional butter is produced by Isigny Sainte-Mère Cooperative, renowned for its high-quality
AWARDS
Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025
Beurre le Ponclet is crafted from the milk of specific cow breeds, including Jersiaise, Guernesey, Armoricaine, and Froment du Léon. These cows graze on natural pastures rich in diverse flora, imparting distinct aromatic qualities to the milk. Fresh, warm milk is collected daily and gently skimmed.
The cream is then matured for three days at a cool temperature before being slowly churned and hand-beaten, resulting in a butter with fine, fresh, and smooth fat content. Due to its artisanal production and limited quantities, Beurre le Ponclet is primarily available in select gourmet markets and high-end restaurants.
Bordier Semi-Salted Butter is a premium artisanal butter renowned for its rich texture and authentic flavor. Unlike industrially produced butter, Bordier butter undergoes a traditional hand-kneading process on wooden boards, giving it a unique, silky texture and an intense taste.
It contains 2.8% salt, providing a balanced, mild salty flavor, complemented by subtle notes of hazelnut and caramel, which become more pronounced during the summer months. This butter is perfect for spreading on bread, enhancing dishes, or experimenting with in gourmet cuisine.
Beurre de Baratte Demi-Sel is an exquisite artisanal butter crafted using traditional French techniques. Made from the highest quality milk sourced from carefully selected cows in Normandy, this butter undergoes a meticulous process to achieve its signature taste and texture.
The churning process takes place in wooden barrels, a time-honored method that enhances the butter’s smooth, creamy consistency and deep, rich flavor. After churning, the butter is hand-shaped and delicately infused with fleur de sel—a premium sea salt harvested from the Île de Ré, known for its subtle briny crunch and ability to enhance the butter’s natural creaminess.
Beillevaire Beurre Cru de Baratte is a luxurious artisanal butter made from raw milk, crafted using traditional methods at the renowned French dairy Fromagerie Beillevaire. This butter is hand-churned in wooden barrels, giving it a rich, creamy texture and an intense, natural flavor that stands out in any culinary application.
The milk used for this butter comes from local farms within a 10 km radius of the Machecoul creamery, located in the Loire-Atlantique region, known for its long-standing dairy traditions. Fresh milk is collected daily and carefully processed, allowing the cream to mature before it is churned in wooden barrels.
Unpasteurised Salted Butter, produced by Isigny Sainte-Mere, is a high-quality butter celebrated for its superior taste and texture. This product is crafted in Normandy, France, a region renowned for its rich pastures and dairy heritage. The butter is made from the milk of cows grazing in this lush area, which imbues the butter with a distinctively creamy and rich flavor.
Its unpasteurised nature ensures that much of the natural flavor and nutrients of the milk are preserved. The addition of salt not only enhances its taste but also increases its shelf life. This particular variant, packaged in 250g sizes, is often praised for its golden-yellow color and smooth consistency, making it a favorite in culinary applications where the quality of butter is paramount.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2021
Bresse Etrez Butter is a true delicacy for those who appreciate authentic dairy craftsmanship. Made using traditional methods, it stands out for its exceptionally smooth texture, rich, full-bodied flavor, and the perfect balance of creamy softness and gentle, natural saltiness.
Carefully crafted from high-quality ingredients, this butter preserves a distinct fresh dairy character and depth of flavor that elevate any culinary creation—whether it's used in pasta, delicate sauces, pastries, or simply enjoyed on warm, crusty bread.
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