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Saucisse de Montbéliard — AI-generated illustration AI-generated illustration

PGI — Franche-Comté

Saucisse de Montbéliard

Golden-smoked and fragrant with caraway — saucisse de Montbéliard is the queen of choucroutes and potées franc-comtoises, little sister to the Morteau and an inseparable companion to long winter gatherings around the table.

Charcuterie speciality from Franche-Comté, PGI (IGP) since 2013.

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At a glance

History & Origins

Saucisse de Montbéliard — AI-generated illustration AI-generated illustration

A Gallic heritage in the forests of the Doubs

The tradition of cured meats in Franche-Comté is one of the oldest in France. As early as the 1st century BC, the Mandubii, a Gallic tribe, developed a great mastery of meat salting — a know-how they passed on to the Sequani and the Aedui, peoples established across what is now Franche-Comté; the cured meats of the Sequani would in turn become renowned as far afield as Rome. In 58 BC, Caesar himself was already praising the quality of the region's land and pork; the remains of Gallo-Roman smokehouses unearthed at Mandeure (Epomanduodurum), near Montbéliard, bear witness to the antiquity of this craft. By the 14th century, the sausage — then called andouille or andouillette — was already distinguished by an original recipe: a blend of lean and fat from local pork, seasoned with garlic and caraway (a local plant also referred to as cumin), dried at length in a chimney over burning softwood.

The cousin of the Morteau

Saucisse de Montbéliard and saucisse de Morteau share the same family, the same terroir and the same softwood smoking technique. But they are not twin sisters: the Montbéliard is slimmer and shorter, closed by twisting — without a wooden peg —, and its product specification strictly requires pepper as well as cumin and/or caraway, this local seed with aniseed and peppery notes. Its minimum smoking time is also shorter than that of Label Rouge Morteau (24h in a traditional tuyé), giving it a more delicate smoky flavour and suppler meat.

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From tradition to PGI (IGP)

As with the Morteau, artisans from the Pays de Montbéliard mobilised to protect the authenticity of their sausage against imitations: a brotherhood, the Compagnons du Boitchu, came into being as early as 1977 to defend and promote it, followed in 1992 by a first regional label, the 'véritable saucisse de Montbéliard'. The pork sector lodged its application for European recognition in 2001; following a national opposition procedure opened in 2010, saucisse de Montbéliard obtained its PGI in 2013 — later than the Morteau (2010), but with the same ambition: to guarantee consumers a sausage made and smoked in the four Franc-Comtois departments, in accordance with precise specifications.

Product characteristics

Portrait of a slender sausage

Saucisse de Montbéliard has a slightly curved cylindrical shape, with a minimum diameter of 25 mm at stuffing, and is generally marketed in pairs. Its uncoloured natural casing, closed by twisting, takes on an amber colour during smoking, between brown and golden — yet non-homogeneous, revealing through translucency the darker areas of lean meat and lighter areas of fat. The meat, pink to dark red, is coarsely minced but remains well bound when sliced. It stands out from the Morteau at first glance: no wooden peg, closed simply by twisting the casing, and a slimmer format.

Sensory profile

Appearance

Slightly curved sausage, uncoloured natural casing closed by twisting, amber colour between brown and golden, sold in pairs.

Aroma

Softwood smoke aroma clearly pronounced, particularly on the raw product.

Taste

Balanced smoky flavour lingering on the palate, never sour nor acrid; meaty taste heightened by pepper and cumin and/or caraway.

Texture

Tender and supple when cooked, firm and juicy in the mouth, coarsely minced and well bound, not falling apart when sliced.

The Montbéliard's defining distinction compared to other Franc-Comtois smoked sausages is this mandatory seasoning with pepper and cumin and/or caraway — a local seed that brings aniseed and subtly peppery notes. Its flavour remains balanced and accessible, with a more delicate smokiness than that of the Morteau, making it the ideal sausage for choucroute, where it blends in without overpowering.

How it is made

01

Selection

Pork reared in Franche-Comté, lean and fat selected for the mince mixture.

02

Preparation

Coarse mincing of the lean and fat, systematic seasoning with salt, pepper, and cumin and/or caraway; optional additiona… Read more
Coarse mincing of the lean and fat, systematic seasoning with salt, pepper, and cumin and/or caraway; optional additional spices (shallot, nutmeg, clove...).
03

Stuffing

Filled into an uncoloured natural casing (hog casing) with a minimum diameter of 25 mm, closed by twisting — without a w… Read more
Filled into an uncoloured natural casing (hog casing) with a minimum diameter of 25 mm, closed by twisting — without a wooden peg, unlike the Morteau.
04

Drying

(optional) — Resting in the open air, in a cold room or in a drying room, until the sausage is dry to the touch.

05

Smoking

Suspended in a smokehouse or traditional tuyé, over a bed of softwood sawdust (fir, spruce) and juniper. Minimum duratio… Read more
Suspended in a smokehouse or traditional tuyé, over a bed of softwood sawdust (fir, spruce) and juniper. Minimum duration: 6h in a conventional smokehouse, 9h in combined smokehouses, 12h in a tuyé or traditional smokehouse with prior drying (24h without prior drying).
06

Marketing

Raw, cooked or frozen, generally sold in pairs.

Tasting & pairings

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Saucisse de Montbéliard is cooked for 20 to 25 minutes in simmering water, immersed in cold water then heated gradually, without ever bringing it to a rolling boil — at the risk of bursting the casing — and without pricking it before cooking. It can also be baked en papillote in the oven (200–210°C, 20 to 25 min), wrapped in aluminium foil to concentrate its aromas. Its traditional pairing par excellence is choucroute garnie — bringing a smoky freshness and aniseed notes that answer the cabbage's juniper berries. It also pairs wonderfully with a potée franc-comtoise with winter vegetables, a raclette or simply potatoes coated in cancoillotte. As for wine, a Beaujolais Villages or a light, fruity red Bourgogne perfectly balances its spicy and smoky notes; a Poulsard d'Arbois or a Crémant du Jura as an aperitif also work wonders.

Labels & certifications

PGI (IGP)

Since: 2013

Area covered: Doubs (25), Jura (39), Haute-Saône (70), Territoire de Belfort (90)

Key requirements: Uncoloured natural casing, pepper and cumin and/or caraway mandatory, min. diameter 25 mm at stuffing, smoking min. 6h over softwood, pork reared in Franche-Comté

The people of the terroir

Producer Maisons-du-Bois-Lièvremont

Aux Produits Saugets

Family-run

Producer Villers-le-Lac

Chapuis Salaisons

Family-run artisan

Producer Fêche-l'Église

Saborec SA

Artisanal manufacturer

Producer Morteau

Salaisons Bouhéret

Family business

Producer · Award-winning Les Fins

Salaisons Renaudot

Family business

Producer · Award-winning Gilley

Salaisons Droz-Vincent

Artisanal industry

Producer · Award-winning Morteau

Morteau Saucisse

Artisanal manufacturer

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Producer Maisons-du-Bois-Lièvremont

Aux Produits Saugets

Family-run

The company 'Aux Produits Saugets' presents itself as a Franche-Comté house established in 1974 by Louis Vonin, and subsequently taken over and developed by his three sons, Michel, Denis, and Bertrand. It specialises in the production and marketing of traditional cured meats: Saucisse de Morteau PGI (IGP) (including a Label Rouge version), Saucisse de Montbéliard PGI, and a smoked ham cooked in the Haut-Doubs. It claims traditional smoking over fir and spruce woods, gentle curing, and rigorous product checks at every stage of production.

Other products

Address2 Rte nationale, 25650 Maisons-du-Bois-Lièvremont, France
Phone03 81 38 15 13
Emailmagasin@saugets.fr
Websiteauxproduitssaugets.fr
Producer Villers-le-Lac

Chapuis Salaisons

Family-run artisan

Chapuis Salaisons presents itself as a specialist in saucisses de Morteau, cured meats, and smoked specialities from the Haut-Doubs, 'in the land of tuyés'. The company highlights its PGI (IGP) and Label Rouge certifications for its smoked products, which it states are made in keeping with 'tradition and its terroir'.

It has opened a new direct sales shop at 3 place Maxime Cupillard in Villers-le-Lac, where it offers its range of smoked meats and barbecue products during the summer season, along with a wide selection of regional specialities.

Other products

Address17 Rue du Soleil Couchant, 25130 Villers-le-Lac, France
Phone03 81 68 00 67
Emailcontact@chapuis-salaisons.fr
Websitechapuis-salaisons.fr
FacebookFacebook page
Instagram@chapuis_salaisons
VisitsYes — on-site shop for direct sales
Producer Fêche-l'Église

Saborec SA

Artisanal manufacturer

Based in Fêche-l'Église, in the Territoire de Belfort, Saborec is run by the Roux family, described as experts in traditional Franche-Comté recipes for three generations. It is among the producers approved to make Saucisse de Morteau PGI (IGP) and Saucisse de Montbéliard PGI, two of the region's smoked specialities. It also produces the Saborette, a smoked sausage presented as a house speciality prepared according to Franche-Comté tradition.

Other products

Address1 Rue des Greppes, 90100 Fêche-l'Église, France
Phone+33 3 84 36 10 87
Producer Morteau

Salaisons Bouhéret

Family business

The firm traces its origins to 1885 on Rue Fauche, in Morteau, where Maison Bidal operated the smokehouse at the time; it passed into family hands in 1921, when Jules Bouhéret — grandfather of the current head — took over the business. His son Adrien succeeded him in 1964 and in 1976 became founding president of the association of manufacturers of authentic saucisse de Morteau under the Label Franche-Comté, working towards its recognition at national level. Jean-Christophe took over the reins in 1988, the year of the firm's transition to European standards; in 2018, three brothers took over the workshop in turn, described as the last artisanal curing facility still in operation in Morteau.

It manufactures saucisse de Morteau and saucisse de Montbéliard, alongside a range of Franche-Comté smoked and cured meats — bacon, filet mignon, jambon cru and smoked ham — and prepared dishes such as croûtes forestière and aux morilles, claiming Label Rouge, PGI (IGP) and 'Viandes Françaises' certification for its entire range. It also offers regional products from the Jura, such as Comté and Macvin. The house won the gold medal in the 2021 saucisse de Morteau PGI competition, before a panel of 115 judges and 38 producers.

Other products

Address26 Rue Fauche, 25500 Morteau, France
Phone03 81 67 10 39
Emailcontact@salaisons-bouheret.fr
Websitesalaisons-bouheret.com
FacebookFacebook page
VisitsYes — shop, Tue–Fri 9:00–12:00 and 15:30–18:30, Sat 8:30–12:00
Producer Les Fins

Salaisons Renaudot

Family business

Boucherie – Charcuterie Renaudot describes itself as a landmark family business in Les Fins, near Morteau, founded in 1992 by Philippe Renaudot. He is supported there by his wife, his children and a team of around twenty staff, who manage production from A to Z: butchery and prepared dishes, charcuterie and cured meats, packaging, sales and dispatch. The firm has its own tuyé to smoke its charcuterie, and highlights two flagship products, saucisses de Morteau and de Montbéliard, awarded multiple gold and silver medals. It also offers a takeaway catering service with homemade prepared meals.

Awards

Concours Général Agricole 2026

Paris

  • Saucisse de Montbéliard IGP

Other products

Address20 Rte de Maîche, 25500 Les Fins, France
Phone03 81 67 46 85
Websiteboucherie-renaudot.fr
Producer Gilley

Salaisons Droz-Vincent

Artisanal industry

In the Haut-Doubs, just a few kilometres from Morteau and the Swiss border, the Droz-Vincent house has been keeping alive a meat-curing tradition since 1968, which originated in a simple family butcher's shop opened in Gilley by Michel Droz-Vincent. As early as 1992, the business specialised in making saucisse de Morteau, obtained Label Rouge approval in 2004, and in 2006 became the first salaison to be awarded the gold medal at the genuine saucisse de Morteau competition under the Franche-Comté label. In 2014, the Jouffroy family took over the business and has since undertaken a complete modernisation of the production facilities, expanding the workshop to double manufacturing capacity.

Faithful to the specifications of Saucisse de Morteau PGI (IGP) & Label Rouge and Saucisse de Montbéliard PGI, the company works exclusively with fresh pork certified Franche-Comté PGI, delivered daily by local producers grouped in a cooperative. No frozen meat, no flavour enhancers, no smoke flavourings: the charcuterie is smoked in the traditional manner over softwood sawdust in a tuyé, the central smokehouse room characteristic of Franche-Comté farms, which the company has recently renovated. Smoked sausages, hams, brési, bacon, coppa, and terrines complete a range sold primarily to regional retailers.

Awards

Concours Général Agricole 2026

Paris

  • Saucisse de Montbéliard IGP

Other products

Address50 Av. de Lattre de Tassigny, 25650 Gilley, France
Phone03 81 43 32 58
Emailcontact@drozvincent.com
Websitedrozvincent.com
Producer Morteau

Morteau Saucisse

Artisanal manufacturer

Based in Morteau since 1987, the Morteau Saucisse company produces traditional smoked cured meats from the Haut-Doubs — saucisse de Morteau PGI (IGP), saucisse de Montbéliard PGI, cooked ham, smoked pork loin, and smoked sausages with cabbage or cumin. The production site preserves a tuyé, the vast chimney typical of Haut-Doubs farmhouses that historically gave local charcuterie its smoky character, and which the company claims as the source of its savoir-faire.

Regularly honoured at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris, the firm won the Gold medal in 2026 for its saucisse de Morteau PGI and the Silver medal for its saucisse de Montbéliard PGI, two accolades paying tribute to the consistency of its craftsmanship.

Awards

Concours Général Agricole 2026

Paris

  • Saucisse de Montbéliard IGP

Other products

AddressRoute de Pontarlier, 25500 Morteau, France
Phone03 81 67 68 70
Emailcontact@morteausaucisse.com
Websitemorteausaucisse.com
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