Sabarot is a family-owned French food company founded in 1819 in the Haute-Loire region of south-central France, best known for its AOP Green Lentils du Puy and a broad range of heritage pulses, dried mushrooms, and other pantry staples. Now run by the seventh generation of the founding family, Sabarot has spent more than two centuries sorting, selecting, and packaging some of France's most protected regional foods. For American cooks, it is one of the most reliable ways to bring authentic French lentils and beans into the home kitchen.
Sabarot at a glance
- Founded: 1819 by Jean-Pierre Sabarot in the Haute-Loire, France.
- Ownership: Still family-run, now led by the seventh generation (Antoine Wassner).
- Signature product: Green Lentils du Puy, a Sabarot staple since around 1900.
- Specialties: Pulses, cereals, wild mushrooms, seeds, and snails.
- Protected labels: AOP Green Lentils du Puy; Label Rouge and IGP Tarbais beans.
- Also notable: Since 1996, Europe's leading producer of prepared snails.
What is Sabarot?
Sabarot is a French heritage brand and family business that dates back to 1819, when Jean-Pierre Sabarot bought a mill in the Haute-Loire. The company began in textiles and milling before finding its true calling toward the end of the 19th century, when it turned to sorting and selling the region's celebrated Le Puy green lentil. From roughly 1900 onward, that little blue-green lentil became the brand's signature, and the business expanded naturally into a wider range of quality pulses and cereals.
Over the following decades Sabarot broadened its catalog to include wild mushrooms harvested from its home region, and in 1996 it began producing prepared snails, an area in which it has since become the European leader. Today the seventh generation of the family, represented by Antoine Wassner, continues the same work: locating exceptional regional raw materials, sorting them carefully, and packaging them for cooks who want the real thing.
What are Le Puy green lentils (and why AOP)?
Le Puy green lentils, or lentille verte du Puy, are small, dark, blue-green speckled lentils grown in the volcanic highlands of the Haute-Loire around the town of Le Puy-en-Velay. Their distinctive mottled color comes from anthocyanins, the same natural pigments found in blueberries and black grapes. They are prized for holding their shape after cooking, a thin skin, and a delicate, almost peppery flavor.
The name is legally protected. In 1996 the Le Puy green lentil became the first vegetable in France to earn an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC), and in 2009 it received the European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO/AOP). Only lentils grown in 87 specific communes of the Haute-Loire may carry the name. The area's volcanic soils, high elevation (roughly 600 to 1,200 meters), and dry continental climate give the lentil its character, and the rules forbid synthetic fertilizers. Independent bodies verify that growers meet the specification, which is why an AOP stamp is a genuine guarantee of origin and method rather than a marketing flourish.
What else does Sabarot make?
Beyond its famous lentils, Sabarot offers a deep catalog of French pantry classics. The range includes other pulses such as flageolet (young, pale-green beans traditionally served with lamb) and the celebrated Tarbais bean, a large white haricot from the Tarbes area of the Hautes-Pyrénées. The Tarbais bean has its own protections: in 1997 it became the first dried bean to receive France's Label Rouge quality mark, and in 2000 it earned IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) status. Its thin skin and creamy interior make it the traditional bean for cassoulet.
The brand also sells dried wild mushrooms, wild rice, quinoa, seeds, and prepared snails, drawing on the same philosophy of sourcing distinctive regional foods and preparing them with care.
How do you cook Sabarot lentils and beans?
The biggest advantage of Le Puy lentils is convenience: they need no soaking. Rinse them, cover with unsalted water or stock, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook until tender but still intact, usually about 20 to 25 minutes. Salt at the end so the skins stay firm. They are excellent warm with a mustard vinaigrette, alongside sausage or fish, or in a hearty soup.
Dried beans such as flageolet and Tarbais benefit from an overnight soak, then a slow, gentle simmer until creamy. The table below gives general guidance; always cook to texture rather than the clock.
| Product | Soak? | Approx. simmer time |
|---|---|---|
| Green Lentils du Puy | No soak | 20-25 minutes |
| Flageolet beans | Overnight | 40-60 minutes |
| Tarbais beans | Overnight | 60-90 minutes |
Where to buy Sabarot in the US?
The French Pantry ships Sabarot across the United States. Two customer favorites are in stock now:
- Green Lentils du Puy P.D.O by Sabarot (17.6 oz): the authentic AOP lentil, vegan and quick-cooking with no soak required.
- Tarbais Beans by Sabarot (2.2 lb): the Label Rouge and IGP white bean, the traditional choice for a proper cassoulet.
You can browse more legumes and dried goods in our Pasta, Beans & Lentils collection. For a full French dinner, they pair beautifully with a bowl of Pasta Mancini.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sabarot still a family company?
Yes. Sabarot has been family-owned since 1819 and is currently run by the seventh generation, represented by Antoine Wassner.
What makes Le Puy green lentils different from ordinary lentils?
They are grown in a defined area of the Haute-Loire with volcanic soils and hold their shape when cooked. Their protected AOP status means only lentils from 87 approved communes, grown without synthetic fertilizers, may carry the name.
Do I need to soak Le Puy lentils before cooking?
No. Simply rinse them and simmer in unsalted water or stock for about 20 to 25 minutes, salting at the end so the skins stay firm.
Are Tarbais beans really certified?
Yes. In 1997 the Tarbais bean became the first dried bean to earn France's Label Rouge, and in 2000 it received IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) status.
Are Sabarot lentils and beans vegan?
The dried pulses, including the Green Lentils du Puy and Tarbais beans, are plain dried legumes and are suitable for vegan diets.
Where can I buy Sabarot products in the US?
The French Pantry (thefrenchpantryca.com) ships Sabarot nationwide, with the Green Lentils du Puy and Tarbais beans available online.
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