ISO dried French Puy Lentils in GTA....

[Moimoi]

Preferably uptown, preferably not St. Lawrence Market, but beggars can't be choosers...

[ghostdogg]

I buy them from Pusateri's and Sun Valley.

[ComeUndone]

Your usual suspects for fancy grocers carry them. Pusateri's (Bayview Village, Yorkville, Avenue), Summerhill, McEwan.

The brand that you're looking for is Sabarot in a green 500g box. Expect to pay between $10-15 depending on where you shop.

[Flexitarian]

That sure is a hefty price. I think the bulk Puys in The BIg Carrot were $4.99/kg, which is 1/4-1/5th the price of the Sabarot ones. Just wondering how much different the ones that are 'certified' as being the real McCoy Puy's from France and the ones grown in Saskatchewan taste different. I know the French ones are grown in volcanic soil, etc etc but has anyone ever done a blind taste test and been able to identify which comes from where? Nutriionally I bet they are similar but theit taste could differ.

[ylsf]

Funny thing is my friend is from France and her mom sent her a "basket" of various stuff from back home that she likes to cook with. So, she got some of these lentils which are expensive/hard to find the "authentic" one here, but, turns out they were grown in Canada and had the label on the bag :) Far journey for them to go !

Curious about the actual taste difference too

[Flexitarian]

Ok, well as I am wont to do, I am going to buy the authentic ones at Pusateri's later this week and some at The Big Carrot (after confirming they are the Saskatchewan or otherwise not the ones actually grown in France and 'Puy' certified as such) and do a blind taste test with some corroboration from friends. There are so few 'authentic' vs 'non-authentic' vegetables and grains, etc (San Marzano DOP certified tomatoes is one other one that comes to mind) that it is worth doing.

I will report back! No use going to those fancy high end Toronto grocers for these lentils if they taste the same, but then your mileage (ie taste buds) may vary.

[Flexitarian]

The Big Carrot has French lentils in bulk but I don't know if they are actually grown in France.

[jayt90]

De Puy lentils have a coveted AOC status just like Bresse chickens and rated growths in Bordeaux, Bourgogne,or the Rhone. If the AOC designation does not appear, it is likely they come from Saskatchewan or the U.S. There is nothing bad about the pretenders, but they do not have the benefit of the sloping Alpine soil or climate.

[flying101]

Not to be a menace but Puy lentils aren't from Bordeaux and don't grown in Alpine soil or climate.... also bordeaux isn't even close to the french alps. However you are correct the do have AOC status and the region is limited to central southern france.

[Moimoi]

Just an fyi to anyone else searching... I found them uptown, just to the east on Marlee at Villa Bulk Foods. They are difficult to find, but worth the hunt. Thanks to everyone.

[Full tummy]

I have seen them at Strictly Bulk (Pape & Danforth) and Better Bulk (Danforth & Woodbine).

[jayt90]

Highland Farms is my source for reasonably priced du Puy lentils from Clic. They are grown in Saskatchewan but closely resemble the AOC product.

[dubchild]

I'm sure they should be easy to find. I bought some a while ago at Wholefoods.

[Moimoi]

I've tried several ethnic grocery stores, but haven't tried any mainstream grocery stores, so maybe I'm over-analyzing this. I didn't think of Wholefoods because it's not close by, but probably a good call... Highland Farms (below) is closer... I will try them, hopefully before Friday. Thank you all...

[Dflip]

I've bought them at Rubes, bottom floor of the St. Lawrence Market. The place in the centre with the beans and rice.