Lentilles vertes du Berry

Lentilles vertes du Berry are green lentils grown across 49 municipalities in the Berry region of the Indre and Cher departments. The designation requires lime-clay soils, a uniform diameter of 4 mm to 6 mm, and rigorous sorting to eliminate impurities, with mineral matter content not exceeding 0,001 per thousand. The husks are dark green, marbled with blue.

About this designation

Lentilles vertes du Berry is a protected geographical indication covering green lentils produced within a defined area of 49 municipalities in the Berry region, spanning the departments of Indre and Cher in France. The specification requires that lentils be grown exclusively on lime-clay soils, either of the rendzina or calcareous brown soil type, which the specification identifies as the basis for the product's uniform colour, size, and maturity. Lentils smaller than 4 mm in diameter must be excluded; the permitted size range is 4 mm to 6 mm in diameter. The maximum permitted rate of cracks in seeds is 0,2 %. At harvest, the maximum permitted humidity is 18 %. The packaging period runs from 1 September of year n to 31 August of year n+1, and the use-by or best-before date may not exceed two years after the date of packaging. Packaging must take place in the geographical area of the PGI, either in bulk bags for external packagers or in consumer sales units. The label must bear the name Lentilles vertes du Berry, the name and address of the certification body preceded by the words 'certified by', and the European Union's PGI logo. The eAmbrosia identifier is EUGI00000013431 and the file number is PGI-FR-0030.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 7 November 1997 under file number PGI-FR-0030 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013431).
• The specification permits a maximum mineral matter content of 0,001 per thousand, achieved through rigorous sorting in the PGI area.
• Lentils below 4 mm in diameter must be excluded; the permitted size range is 4 mm to 6 mm in diameter.
• The geographical area is limited to 49 municipalities in the departments of Indre and Cher.

Tasting notes

Berry green lentil IGP. Similar profile to Puy lentil but milder flavor, less intense terroir character.

HoReCa use

Loire Valley regional preparations; the lentils are also used by industries specialising in prepared meals, as the specification explicitly provides for bulk-bag packaging destined for such processors.

Packaging

• vacuum-pack-500g
• professional-bulk-5kg