Gourmet shopping
When you think of the Tarn, you think of rugby and...gastronomy! Forever present in its land and history, gastronomy is the department's main asset. The region's agricultural history and the know-how acquired over the years by its inhabitants have given rise to fine, tasty and fragrant products. Eaten as such, incorporated into traditional cuisine or devoured unaccompanied, they are the pride and joy of the Tarn.
You'll have the great pleasure of discovering the beauty of this terroir at table, in the department's delicious and generous restaurants. Do you want to share your discoveries, but are afraid of feeling "homesick" once you've left? Go gourmet shopping!
Local produce is not only prepared by restaurateurs proud of their culinary heritage, but also sold by Tarn artisans and producers. Enter their stores and farms and take a little piece of the Tarn home with you.
But then, what do you buy? Here, you're spoilt for choice! Some may prefer the nectars of the Gaillac vineyards (AOC Gaillac Blanc Perlé, AOC Gaillac Blanc Sec, AOC Gaillac vendanges tardives..) and the highly sought-after Tarn whisky from Distillerie Castan, others will opt for specialties such as croquants de Cordes, a dry almond cookie created in the 17th century in Cordes-sur-Ciel; échaudés, triangular shortbread flavored with aniseed; gimblettes, a ring-shaped cake made in Albi with orange blossom and aniseed; and mesturet, a typical and original pumpkin dessert.
If you're not a sweet tooth, you'll be delighted by noble products such as the excellent Quercy saffron, succulent black causse truffles or pink Lautrec garlic. Or maybe you'd prefer the cheeses of the department (cow, goat, sheep) or the charcuterie of Lacaune. Recognized throughout the country as one of the great values of our terroir, they include the classic and delicious hams, sausages and pâtés, while offering very local recipes. If you're looking for a product that's specific to the region, look no further than melsat, a semi-dry sausage made with eggs, bread and pork; bougnettes, 10-15 cm-diameter balls of minced pork belly, bread and eggs, wrapped in crépine; and jambon Apalhat, a charcuterie made from pigs raised on straw. All these delights prove one thing: in the Tarn, everything is good, and not just pigs!
The creations of the Tarn
If agriculture, and more particularly vine-growing, has given the Tarn a fine reputation, it's the men and women of the region who have solidified it with their many skills. Here, everything has been worked, from wood and metal to clay, leather, fabric, copper and glass. As you stroll through the département, you'll discover the museums and cultural centers that pay tribute to them (Musée du Saut du Tarn in Saint-Juéry, Musée de la vie paysanne in Nages...).
You'll also have the chance to visit some of the workshops run by the protectors of these arts and crafts (potters, ceramists, tanners, glassblowers, sculptors, metalworkers), notably in Cordes-sur-Ciel, Mazamet, Graulhet and Lautrec. They'll share their secrets with you, and give you the chance to acquire some of their original pieces.
These nuggets are ideal for souvenir shopping. Less temporary than food, they can bring a Tarn touch to your daily life and your home. If you want to buy handicrafts "made in Tarn", emblematic of the region, the best thing to do is buy leather goods from Graulhet, pastel-dyed clothes from the Pays de Cocagne and traditional clogs from Lautrec. Extremely hard-wearing products from Toiles de la Montagne Noire can also be purchased thematically. Woven in the department in the old-fashioned way, these tablecloths, napkins and bags make great gifts to give or to receive. There's plenty of scope for original shopping!
