European cuisine features a variety of meats in various regional dishes. What makes European meat so excellent? Generations of farmers use breeding and farming techniques, founded on a respect for farm animals and the surrounding environment, dating back to ancient Europe. All EU meat products are traceable from farm to fork, thanks to high-quality control and certification standards. This also means that contaminated products are quickly removed before reaching shop shelves.
EU cheese and dairy products are a popular table setting for any meal: from a breakfast yogurt to a dinner cheese plate. The expertise of local cheese and dairy producers blend traditional and innovative practices for freshness and safety from farm to fork. This stamp of excellence is also linked to the varied European landscape, which provides a healthy diet for herds of cows, goats, sheep and buffalo to produce high-quality milk.
From the Arctic coast to the Mediterranean, from valleys to mountains, Europe’s landscape is populated with a rainbow of red, green, yellow, orange and pink fruit and vegetables. When selecting EU fruit or vegetables, you can be sure that they have been harvested under the ideal seasonal climate, soil and cultivation conditions of a specific part of Europe. EU standards also regulate the use of pesticides, antibiotics and other chemical methods for safe and organic cultivation.
Europe has a wide spectrum of popular baked goods and sweets suited for different tastes and occasions. Mandatory EU labelling standards guarantee the best and safest ingredients for chocolates, pastries and biscuits produced anywhere in the EU. Whatever your sweet tooth, this also means that you can check for allergens and other dietary restrictions.
Fields of wheat, barley, rye, oat and rice have been a staple of a European diet for centuries. These age-old ingredients have been reincarnated from generation to generation to satisfy new tastes and food trends, without sacrificing vitamins, carbohydrates, oils, proteins and fats. The quality taste of EU cereals is reinforced by standardised inspections, aimed at preventing food-borne disease or contamination, as well as a recent uptick in the percentage of organic farming land in the EU.
Whether you are cooking or garnishing a meal, oil is important for taste. The EU produces over 70% of the world’s olive oil, in addition to a spectrum of oils, vinegars and sauces packed with delicious flavours, good fats and antioxidants. All oil production stages are monitored and tested by experts to verify authenticity and uphold safety and quality standards. What’s the final seal of approval? All oils packaged in the EU must be fitted with a secure seal to prevent tampering. A respect for different regional climates and geography goes into the production of oil from olives, nuts and seeds.
Europe has so many flavourful and refined wines, beers and spirits to complement a range of cuisines and events. For thousands of years, family-run vineyards, breweries and distilleries have harnessed the unique regional climate to cultivate and extract the perfect ingredients for world-famous labels. While these traditional methods of production cannot be overlooked, innovative equipment and technologies have allowed today’s European producers to deliver some of the safest and finest wines, spirits and beers.
Spices and herbs from the EU make any plate more colourful and flavourful. Over the course of history, thyme and other herbs have infused different traditional recipes all over Europe. Product packaging is also tightly regulated so you trust the ingredients. Spices and herbs are subject to the same EU standards for safe and organic farming.