French Gastronomy on Stamps (20): Poitou-Charente

timbres-gastronomie-poitoucharente

France has issued many stamps on food (not foodstamps!) on her own gastronomy for quite some time.
A new series will be issued on April 25th and wil be printed in the form of mini-sheets dedicated to a particular region with stamps, pics and explanations.
With the twentieth of these sheets I’d like to introduce is Poitou-Charente.

Poitou Charente includes Poitou and Poitiers, the theatre of great battles during the 100 Years War. It also includes Cognac and its brandies, hence a very strong English influence also found in La Rochelle, the capital of Charente. Ile de Re/Re Island was the place where Protestants had to leave France under Louis XIV’s reign. I actually found 14 families there (population: 2,500) bearing my surname (I was born Catholic, but my surname was mainly Huguenot)!
Ile de Re was also the final departure from France for many forced laborers who left for French Guyana.

It has an extremely rich culinary tradition.
On the sheet you will notice:
-Oysters (marennes in particular)
-Tourteau Fromager, a succulent cake made with local cheese.

You must also include superlative seafood (including shark!), cheeses (especially goat cheese!), and spirits (not only Cognac, but Pineau and wines).
Visit La Rochelle and Ile de Re for its food and great sea resorts!

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Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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