Corsica, an island of extraordinary beauty in the Mediterranean, offers a unique culinary experience that reflects its rich history and diverse landscape. From aromatic cheeses to seasoned cured meats, from fine wines to sweet specialties, every corner of the island holds gastronomic treasures to discover. Exploring local shops and markets becomes a sensory journey through centuries-old traditions and culinary innovations, allowing visitors to savor the very essence of Corsican culture.
Typical Corsican Products: A Gastronomic Journey Through the Island of Beauty
Corsican cuisine is a mosaic of intense and authentic flavors, deeply rooted in the territory. Among the undisputed protagonists is brocciu, a fresh sheep's or goat's cheese, a key ingredient in many traditional recipes. No less important is Corsican charcuterie, with its flagship product: prisuttu, a seasoned raw ham that rivals the best European hams.
Corsican olive oil, with its unique fragrance, is another pillar of island gastronomy. Produced mainly in the Balagne region, it boasts a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) that guarantees its authenticity and quality. You can't talk about Corsican specialties without mentioning the chestnut, a true "poor man's flour" that has fed generations of islanders and is now the protagonist of many sweet and savory recipes.
For those who love sweets, Corsica offers a wide range of temptations. These include canistrelli, crunchy biscuits flavored with anise or lemon, and fiadone, a cake made with brocciu and lemon. To savor Lonzu, a typical cured meat made with pork loin, it is advisable to visit the island's artisan delicatessens, where you can taste this product in all its authenticity.
Ajaccio Gourmet Shops: Culinary Treasures in the Capital
Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, is not only a historical and cultural center, but also a paradise for lovers of good food. Its streets are teeming with gourmet shops that offer the best of island production, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the authentic flavors of Corsica.
U Stazzu: Artisan Cheeses and Cured Meats from Sartène
Located in the heart of Ajaccio, U Stazzu is a true temple of Corsican cheeses and cured meats. Here, enthusiasts can find a wide selection of products from the Sartenais region, renowned for the quality of its pastures and, consequently, for the excellence of its dairy and cured meat productions.
Among the shelves of U Stazzu, you will always find casgiu vechju, a seasoned sheep's cheese with a strong flavor, and figatellu, a typical cured meat made with pork liver flavored with local spices. The possibility of tasting these products directly in the shop makes the experience even more engaging and allows you to fully appreciate the complexity of Corsican flavors.
A Puteca: Cap Corse Specialties and DOC Wines
A Puteca stands out for its specialization in products from the Cap Corse peninsula, one of the most renowned wine regions on the island. Here, in addition to a careful selection of Corsican DOC wines, you can find the famous Cap Corse, an aperitif based on wine and quinine which represents a true institution in the island's food and wine culture.
The shop offers a wide range of artisan preserves and jams, made with local fruits and vegetables. Particularly appreciated is the clementine jam, produced with citrus fruits grown in the eastern plain of the island, renowned for their sweetness and intense aroma.
Maison Ferrero: Traditional Corsican Sweets and Jams
La Maison Ferrero is an institution in Ajaccio when it comes to traditional Corsican sweets and jams. Founded in 1922, this pastry-confectionery has managed to keep ancestral recipes alive, adapting them to contemporary taste without losing the authenticity of flavors.
Among the most requested specialties are frappes, typical fried sweets of the Carnival period, and the chestnut cake, a dessert that embodies the very essence of Corsican pastry. La Maison Ferrero is also renowned for its jams, in particular the fig jam, made according to a secret recipe handed down from generation to generation.
Le Marché Central: Local Producers' Stalls and Tastings
The Marché Central of Ajaccio is the beating heart of the city's gastronomy. This covered market, open every day, hosts stalls of local producers who offer a wide range of fresh and artisan products. It is the ideal place to immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Corsican food culture and to discover authentic flavors directly from the source.
Here you can find everything from freshly produced goat cheeses to olives in oil, from seasoned cured meats to mountain herbs. Many stalls also offer the possibility of tasting the products on site, transforming the visit to the market into a real gastronomic tour.
Historic Shops of Bastia: Tradition and Culinary Innovation
Bastia, the former capital of Corsica, is a city that breathes history at every corner, and this heritage is also reflected in its food shops. Here, tradition and innovation merge, offering visitors a unique gastronomic experience that ranges from the most authentic products to modern reinterpretations of Corsican cuisine.
Chez Mattei: Typical Liqueurs and Aperitifs Like Cap Corse
Chez Mattei is a true institution in Bastia. Founded in 1872, this shop specializes in the production and sale of typical Corsican liqueurs and aperitifs. The flagship product is undoubtedly Cap Corse, an aperitif based on wine and quinine that has conquered palates well beyond the island's borders.
In addition to the famous aperitif, Chez Mattei offers a wide range of artisan liqueurs, such as cedratine, produced with Corsican cedars, and cédratine, a digestive made with local herbs. The possibility of tasting these products directly in the shop makes the visit an unforgettable experience for lovers of quality distillates.
U Paisanu: Corsican Charcuterie and PDO Cheeses
U Paisanu is a paradise for lovers of Corsican charcuterie and cheeses. This shop, managed by the same family for generations, offers a curated selection of cured meats and cheeses from all over the island, with particular attention to PDO products.
Among the shelves of U Paisanu you can find coppa, a cured meat obtained from the pork shoulder, lonzu, produced with the loin, and a variety of cheeses ranging from fresh brocciu to seasoned niulincu. The competence of the owners and the possibility of tasting the products make this shop a must for those who want to explore the authentic flavors of Corsica.
La Cave Bastiaise: Selection of Corsican Wines and Regional Spirits
La Cave Bastiaise is a reference point for wine enthusiasts visiting Bastia. This wine shop offers one of the widest selections of Corsican wines on the island, representing all nine protected designation of origin (PDO) of the region.
In addition to wines, La Cave Bastiaise offers a wide range of regional spirits, including the famous Corsican eau-de-vie and ratafia, a sweet liqueur obtained from the maceration of fruit in eau-de-vie. The owners regularly organize guided tastings, allowing visitors to deepen their knowledge of Corsican wines and distillates in a welcoming and professional environment.
Wine Bars and Cellars of Patrimonio: Discovering Corsican Wines
Patrimonio, a small town located in the Cap Corse region, is considered the beating heart of Corsican viticulture. This area, benefiting from a unique microclimate and soils particularly suited to vine cultivation, produces some of the most renowned wines on the island.
The wine bars and cellars of Patrimonio offer visitors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the world of Corsican wine. Many wineries organize guided tours of the vineyards and cellars, followed by tastings that allow you to appreciate the complexity and diversity of local wines.
Among the most cultivated grape varieties in the area are Niellucciu, considered the "prince" of Corsican vines, and Sciaccarellu, which gives the red wines a characteristic spicy note. There is no shortage of white wine productions, obtained mainly from Vermentinu grapes, and rosés, increasingly appreciated for their freshness and versatility.
Weekly Markets in the Hinterland: From Producer to Consumer
The weekly markets in the Corsican hinterland represent a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rural life of the island and discover fresh and artisan products directly from the producers. These markets are not only places of commerce, but real social events that reflect the soul of local communities.
Corte Market: Products from Castagniccia and Maquis Honey
Corte, the ancient capital of independent Corsica, hosts a weekly market that is a true tribute to the flavors of the hinterland. Here, the producers of Castagniccia, a region renowned for its chestnut groves, bring their specialties: chestnut flour, chestnut biscuits, and the delicious chestnut honey.
Another unmissable specialty is maquis honey, produced by bees that feed on the typical vegetation of the Corsican maquis. This honey, with its intense and aromatic flavor, is available in different varieties, each with unique characteristics that reflect the island's biodiversity.
Bocognano Fair: Mountain Specialties and Alpine Pasture Cheeses
The Bocognano fair, held annually, is an unmissable event for lovers of mountain products. Here, shepherds and breeders from the most remote areas of the island bring their alpine pasture cheeses, produced following traditional methods handed down from generation to generation.
Among the specialties not to be missed are casgiu merzu, a fermented cheese with a strong flavor, and brocciu passu, a seasoned version of the classic brocciu. The fair is also an opportunity to taste quality meats, such as Corsican lamb, known for its tenderness and delicate flavor.
L'Île-Rousse Market: Seafood and Citrus Fruits of Balagne
The market of L'Île-Rousse, a picturesque coastal town in Balagne, is a riot of Mediterranean colors and scents. Here, local fishermen bring the fresh catch of the day, offering a variety of seafood and fish typical of Corsican waters.
Balagne is renowned for its citrus fruits, in particular clementines, which enjoy a protected designation of origin. At the market you can find these delights along with other varieties of local citrus fruits, such as lemons and grapefruits, often used to produce jams and artisan liqueurs.
E-commerce of Corsican Products: Tasting the Island Anywhere
In the digital age, e-commerce has opened new frontiers for the diffusion of typical Corsican products, allowing visitors to savor Corsican specialties from the comfort of their own homes. Several online platforms have specialized in the sale and distribution of typical products of the island, offering a wide selection of gastronomic specialties, wines and local crafts.
Corsica Box: Thematic Selections of Regional Specialties
Corsica Box is an innovative e-commerce service that offers thematic boxes containing a curated selection of typical Corsican products. Each box is designed to offer a complete gastronomic experience, allowing customers to explore the flavors of the island through studied combinations of regional specialties.
The boxes can be monothematic, such as the "Box Charcuterie" which includes a variety of Corsican cured meats, or multitematic such as the "Box Découverte" which offers a taste of different specialties of the island, from cheeses to sweets, passing through wines and artisan products. This formula allows those who have never visited Corsica to embark on a real sensory journey through the authentic flavors of the island.
Gusti di Corsica: Platform of Certified Local Producers
Gusti di Corsica is an online platform that brings together a network of certified local producers, guaranteeing the authenticity and quality of the products offered. This e-commerce stands out for its attention to traceability and sustainability, offering consumers the opportunity to know the story behind each product purchased.
Through Gusti di Corsica, it is possible to purchase a wide range of Corsican specialties, from PDO cheeses to DOC wines, from artisan preserves to cosmetic products made with natural ingredients from the island. The platform also offers the possibility to customize orders, creating tailor-made gift packages or periodic subscriptions to regularly receive a selection of seasonal products.
Corsica Gastronomia: International Shipments of Island Delicatessen
Corsica Gastronomia has established itself as one of the leading e-commerce specializing in the international shipment of Corsican gastronomic products. Thanks to an efficient logistics network, the company is able to deliver the island's specialties all over the world, keeping the freshness and quality of the products intact.
The Corsica Gastronomia catalog ranges from Corsican cuisine classics, such as prisuttu and brocciu, to more niche products such as myrtle essential oil or organic chestnut flour. The e-commerce offers a section dedicated to fresh products, such as cheeses and cured meats, guaranteeing fast deliveries and in optimal conditions thanks to special isothermal packaging.