Organic food in Paris

Over the last decades, the organic trend has become more and more important, it has deeply changed the way the French consume. Even though France is renown for the diversity of its products, organic food is an alternative to what can be found in normal malls, sometimes not very careful of the quality and the origin.

A lot of shops, supermarkets, boutiques and restaurants have blossomed all around the capital, establishing durably organic food in Paris. Even though the price is often higher than the average, a lot of Parisians do not hesitate to pay more in order to have better products.

Organic supermarkets

What is very striking is the growing number of supermarkets dedicated to organic food in Paris, they offer a very large choice of organic merchandise, from fruits and vegetables to make-up and baby food. It is clearly possible to live completely with the products sold in such organic supermarkets. Dietary supplements are not very present in France – for now – but brands such as Naturalia sell quite a lot of them.

They are of course natural plant extracts: it is the idea of a healthy and sound lifestyle that is promoted by the organic supermarkets. Some addresses are Naturalia, Bio c’Bon, Les Nouveaux Robinsons, Retour à la Terre. However, supermarkets may sell products coming from abroad (sometimes from really far) and it is quite difficult to know whether they are really organic. The best is to got to a « coop » (agricultural cooperative), where farmers from the region come to sell their products, enabling the client to know exactly from where is what he buys and consumes.

Open air markets

Buying organic food in Paris can also be a social experience and a truly Parisian moment: several times a week, organic open air markets pop up on plazas and boulevards. Just passing through a market is a cheerful visit: vendors continue shouting and boasting their products. You better borrow the shopping bag of your grand mother, its truly the best way to shop since few apples and potatoes will soon feel heavy! Some of the most famous organic markets are the Batignolles market and the Raspail market. The Raspail one is perhaps a bit posh, do not be surprised if you see a French celebrity buying its tomatoes.

Marchébiologique Batignolles – Boulevard des Batignolles
Hours: 9 AM to 3 PM every Sunday
Métro: Place de Clichy, Lines 2&13

Marchébiologique Raspail – Boulevard Raspail 75006 Paris
Hours: 9 AM to 3 PM every Sunday
Métro: Rennes, Line 12

Organic stores

Event though organic food in Paris is mainly provided by markets and supermarkets, some smaller stores can be found throughout the capital, they usually specialize themselves one particular kind of aliment. For example, ChocoLatitudes (57 rue Daguerre, 14e arrondissement) is a shop dedicated to organic, ethical and fair trade chocolate. In this shop, the owners will invite you to take all the time you want in order to explore all the aspects of cocoa. On the same street, you can find the store of the Famille Mary, where you can find organic honey and royal jelly (the substance that given to the future queen bee). Finally, if you are lucky, you may be able to find the food-truck Marguerite Du Pré, which sells delicious organic frozen yogurt.

Organic restaurants

Restaurants are perhaps the best way to enjoy organic food in Paris. Restorers make the choice of serving high quality products to their costumers at all levels. For instance, Rose Bakery (30 Rue Debelleyme, 3eme arrondissement) is both a tea room,a shop and a restaurant with almost only organic products. The restaurant Pousse-Pousse (5&7, rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, 75009 Paris) is a restaurant and a café/smoothie bar that is specialized in seeds and organic rich in vitamins grows. Greatest chefs are also fond of organic food: Alain Ducasse, one of the most famous French chef decided to cook only organic products in his restaurant in the Plaza Athénée, a Parisian palace situated on the Avenue Montaigne, near the Champs Elysées.