IS BUTTER A GOOD SOUVENIR TO BRING HOME FROM FRANCE?

Before my trip to Paris this past November, I did a lot of research...and when I say a lot of research, I mean a LOT. I looked on Google, Instagram, and TikTok, and I was shocked to find that something that continually kept coming up was French butter. I kept seeing influencers on TikTok going to grocery stores in Paris to get butter, vaccum sealing it, and then bringing it home. I was super intrigued by this and decided that I also wanted to try to bring home butter as a souvenir and see what all this hype was about. It ended up being the BEST thing I brought back from Paris so I'm here to tell you everything you need to know. Whether you're looking for which store you should buy it at, what type to get, if you can bring it home in your suitcase, or everything in between, I'm your girl!

WHAT IS FRENCH BUTTER?

French butter is butter that has higher fat content compared to other types of butter. It's created in France, hence the name, and it's said to have a richer and creamier texture compared to butter from other countries. It's also preferred by chefs around the world because of its elevated flavor and texture.

HOW IS FRENCH BUTTER MADE?

French butter is made using fresh milk from local cows. This milk is then separated into cream and skim milk using a centrifugal separator. The cream is taken for butter while the skim milk is sold as is or repurposed. After the separation, live bacterial cultures are added for cultured butter and allowed to ferment for 12-48 hours. The cream is then churned until there are two products: buttermilk and the actual butter. Finally, the butter is washed with cold water, salt or any other flavorings are added, and the butter is shaped into a block and packaged.

WHAT DOES FRENCH BUTTER TASTE LIKE?

They say once you taste French butter you'll never go back, and I would agree with that statement wholeheartedly. It's often described as tasting richer and creamier than butter from the United States. This is because France creates higher quality cream and uses traditional production methods to create the butter. There are also stricter laws in France with many butter manufacturers being Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) certified.

WHAT MAKES FRENCH BUTTER SO GOOD?

French butter is so good because a lot of time and care go into creating it using traditional methods. Many French butter manufacturers are Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) certified which means that the butter is produced, processed, and prepared in a specific geographical region with specific climate conditions. Additionally, the cream's fat content must be 82% or higher, which is higher than butter produced by many other countries. Locally sourced ingredients are used to flavor the butter, enhancing it's overall quality as well. All of these efforts create world renowned butter loved by locals, visitors, and chefs alike!

There are a TON of places to buy butter in France. Just walk into any local grocery store and you should find some local butter from mass-market brands like Président or Elle & Vire! If you're looking for artisan butter and to have multiple options as far as flavors and brands go though, I would suggest going to a store like Le Grande Epicerie in Paris. The store itself is HUGE with 17 food sections and sit down restaurants so you'll find a ton of butter options and great fresh bread and produce to pair it with. The physical address of this store is 38 Rue de Sevres in the 6th arrondissement in Paris and it is always busy so be prepared!

WHICH FRENCH BUTTER SHOULD I BUY?

If you're looking for some high quality butter in France, you're going to want to try an artisan brand like Le Beurre Bordier, Beurre de Baratte, Beurre d’Isigny or Beurre Charentes-Poitou. This is because Beurre d’Isigny and Beurre Charentes-Poitou are PDO/AOP certified butters that have very specific production methods to create quality butter, and brands like Le Beurre Bordier and Beurre de Baratte are handcrafted with a variety of outstanding flavors. If you can't find one of these artisan brands though you can rest assured knowing that the fat content of all butter is higher in France compared to other countries which is a huge reason that it tastes superior in comparison, so all French butter will be atleast a little better!

CAN YOU BRING FRENCH BUTTER ON A PLANE?

Yes, you can bring French butter on a plane with you. It's best to keep it in your checked luggage instead of a carry-on bag though because TSA considers butter a liquid which means it can only be 3.4 oz. Checked bags do not have any size or quantity restrictions so it's completely fine to put it in there. Just make sure to get it vacuum sealed! If you're going home to the United States you will also have to declare the butter at customs but it will be allowed into the country as long as it doesn't contain any meat. Other countries have restrictions on dairy imports so it's best to check your specific countries rules if you are flying home to a different destination.

HOW TO PACK FRENCH BUTTER IN YOUR SUITCASE

The best way to pack French butter in your suitcase is to first get it vacuum sealed at the grocery store and then to pack it in your checked bag. It usually costs an extra Euro or two to get it vacuum sealed wherever you buy it and it's very worth it! Though it's likely that the butter will melt atleast a little, especially if you're traveling in the summer, the vacuum seal will help so that it doesn't spill all over your other personal belongings in the suitcase. It will also help it keep its shape. Additionally, you can also put the vacuum sealed butter into another bag if you'd like, like a grocery bag or a new trash bag. When I went to Paris I got my butter vacuum sealed when I bought it at La Grande Epicerie for an extra Euro and just threw it into my checked bag as it was! When I got home a day later I found that it had melted a little but not much, and no liquid escaped the bag. 

HOW TO USE FRENCH BUTTER ONCE YOU GET HOME

There are countless ways you can use your French butter once you get home, but some of the most common ways are:

HOW LONG DOES FRENCH BUTTER LAST?

Unsalted butter will usually last around 2-3 months while salted butter will last 3-4 months because the salt helps to slow down the growth of bacteria. A generally good rule of thumb regardless of if you are using French butter or butter from a different country is that it'll be good for atleast one month. You'll know when it's time to throw it away because it will start turning a darker color in certain areas and it may start to smell sour and feel slimy.

CAN YOU PUT FRENCH BUTTER IN THE FREEZER?

Yes, you can put French butter in the freezer! This is actually a great way to prolong the life of your butter especially if you're bringing it back home from abroad. Frozen butter can last for up to one year as long as it's stored with an airtight seal. If you are looking to store your French butter for a long period of time and to use it periodically, the best thing you can do is sort it out into multiple smaller batches so you can thaw one chunk at a time.

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