Fruit jams, coulis, chutneys, and preserves

Confiturerie Chatelain

Haute-Provence and the Alps are famous for their apples and berries. Fruit producers and agriculture in general play a big part in the local economy. The region here is unspoiled by industries and pollution, as the population density is barely more than 20 inhabitants per km².

Our supplier of fruit jams, coulis, and chutneys has been established in the region for over 30 years. The Chatelain factory sits on the border of Haute-Provence and the Alps, near Gap. Jean-Marc Chatelain took over the family business from his father over 20 years ago and has now passed it onto his son, Sebastien. The Chatelains strive to work, whenever possible, with fresh, in-season from local producers, as they have done for years.

The coulis follow a simple recipe: just fresh fruits and a dash of sugar pressed into a purée without cooking. Most Chatelain coulis are completely organic and contain 75% fruit, all of which have been picked at maturity to give the best possible taste. These coulis pack a flavoursome punch and feel indulgent, but a tablespoon of their organic strawberry coulis, perhaps topping your porridge or granola, contains only 37kcal and 8g of sugar.

Nearby, the jams are cooked in an open-air cauldron and their recipe follows the same natural approach: fresh fruits, collected at maturity for more flavour, and less sugar in the mix. This means you can really taste the fruit and don't have the bitterness often found in other jams, as the Chatelains don’t use any artificial acidity regulators in their products. The jams are 45% sugar and a whopping 55% fruit, with most supermarket equivalents containing over 65% sugar. Not only is the lower sugar content healthier, but you also enjoy a jam which tastes much more like the original fruit.

The Chatelains are also a responsible family, and are involved in several regional lobbies created to protect the environment and encourage sustainable farming. Jean-Marc and Sebastien’s passion for their region and their craft is contagious and it's always a delight to spend a few hours in their company to learn more about their work and the majestic surrounding Alps.