Pears on tap A delicacy from Touraine

Discover the poires tapées de Rivarennes: an ancestral speciality that has been the pride of Touraine since the 11th century. Immerse yourself in the world of this unique dried fruit, a blend of traditional craftsmanship and gourmet delights, in the heart of the village of Rivarennes near Azay-le-Rideau.

An ancestral history of Touraine

Returning from the Crusades, the peasants learned to preserve fruit by drying it, starting with plums Alienéor d’Aquitaine, who had returned to Fontevraud, encouraged the planting of plum trees brought back from Damascus in the Loire Valley. They then transposed this technique to local fruit: pears and apples! In their wood-fired oven, they experimented with local “pouères” (pears in the old Touraine language). It’s a method that has stood the test of time, making these passionate craftsmen proud. Production intensified in the 19th century, when the uprooting of vines by phylloxera forced farmers to diversify. Poires tapées became a culinary speciality, exported as far afield as Northern Europe. The traditional ovens were never empty, transforming Rivarennes into a veritable capital of this dried fruit.

The world wars marked a pause in this adventure, but the passion remained. Today, from starters to desserts, Les Reines de Touraine perpetuate this unique Loire Valley expertise.

How are pears made?

Dive into the manufacturing secrets of this gourmet treasure! At the Maison de la Poire, craftsmen perpetuate meticulous know-how. The pears, carefully selected and peeled, are laid out on racks, tails down. Then begins the dance with the wood-fired oven: several days in gradually heated ovens, where the fruit slowly dehydrates.

The final stage reveals all the art of the master craftsmen: each pear is “tapped” with a platissoire, a traditional wooden tool that gives them their characteristic shape. Sublime with a duck breast or rehydrated in a sweet Vouvray, these pears concentrate all the flavours of Touraine.

Recipes and pairings with Vouvray

Match your poires tapées with a sweet Vouvray for an explosion of flavours on the palate. The natural sweetness of the wine sublimates the candied notes of the fruit, creating a perfect harmony to accompany a semi-cooked foie gras or snacked scallops.

For an original starter, rehydrate your pears in a sparkling Vouvray and serve them warm on a bed of mesclun. The combination of bubbles and candied fruit adds an unexpected touch of freshness. Touraine’s top chefs also love to incorporate them into their sauces to top pike-perch in beurre blanc or roast poultry.

A tasting tip? Serve your Vouvray at 12°C to reveal all its white fruit and honey aromas, which blend delicately with the spicy notes of the tapered pears.

The vineyards of Touraine

Escape around Rivarennes

La Maison de la poire tapée in Rivarennes

Take a tour of 1 chemin des Écoliers, where the Maison de la poire tapée welcomes you from April to September. In this completely redesigned space, let yourself be guided by a subtitled video tracing the adventure of this exceptional fruit.

As you visit, admire the ancestral tools and the wood-fired oven rebuilt thanks to the Stéphane Bern Mission. In the adjoining conservatory orchard, rare varieties such as Curé and Colmar perpetuate the tradition. Don’t miss the final tasting session, where pears tapées are revealed in all their forms, from dried fruit to homemade jams.

A diversions to the shop will allow you to leave with these gourmet treasures, transformed by the local artisans who keep this unique Touraine speciality alive.

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Where to taste this local speciality?

Go to the Maison de la Poire Tapée, a veritable showcase for this local speciality. The tasting area offers plain pears, rehydrated in Vouvray, or transformed into delicious dry jams.

A stone’s throw away, the Reines de Touraine shop welcomes you to the heart of the village. Discover a full range of artisanal products: pears rehydrated in Loire wines, creams and liqueurs scented with fruity notes.

The Azay-le-Rideau and Chinon tourist offices also offer these gourmet treasures. For a unique experience, take part in the guided tastings organised every Friday during the summer season by local artisans.