To serve with crêpes, choose thick organic crème fraîche if you’re after a creamy topping. Pourable organic cream is better suited to recipes where you need to drizzle it or stir it in. If you’re looking for a lower fat content, compare light versions rather than assuming they have the same ingredients as full-fat cream. Whatever you choose, check that the product is certified organic, along with its ingredients, pack size and storage instructions.
You want to confirm that the cream you choose is organic, rather than relying on a product range’s name alone. France’s Ministry of Agriculture explains that organic farming is governed by European regulations and shows which logos identify organic products.
You’re planning to spoon cream over crêpes, fruit or a dessert and want a thick texture. The 30 % full-fat organic options listed by Carrefour France and E.Leclerc give you useful points of comparison; check the texture of the product you buy.
You’re deciding between light cream for another recipe and a larger pot for several dishes. Compare the fat content, ingredients, quantity and storage instructions after opening.
For Candlemas, first check that the product is organic. Then choose between thick cream to serve with crêpes, pourable cream to stir into a recipe, or a light version if its fat content better suits what you’re looking for. Ingredients and quantity can then help you choose between products with the same texture.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for the EU organic logo or the AB mark on the product you choose, and check its product description. | If my main priority is certified organic cream, I want to be able to identify the product on its packaging; around 37 % of consumers put this check first. |
| Texture and recipe | Compare the descriptions “thick”, “light” and “pourable” with how you plan to use the cream. | Whether I’m topping crêpes or stirring cream into a recipe, I first choose the texture that suits the job; this is the priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Check the fat content and ingredients list for each product. | If I’m swapping full-fat cream for a light version, I want to compare their ingredients rather than just how they look; around 18 % of consumers prioritise ingredients and fat content. |
| Pack size and storage | Choose a quantity that suits the recipes you have planned, then check the storage temperature and instructions for after opening. | When I’m planning several recipes, I want a quantity I can use within the conditions stated on the pot; pack size and storage come first for around 18 % of consumers. |
Organic certification and fat content are two different things. Carrefour France lists a 30 % full-fat thick organic cream, while its product information for Elle & Vire’s light thick organic cream states a fat content of 12 %.
Once you’ve checked that the product is organic, compare the fat percentage and nutritional information for the specific product.
Two creams with a similar thick texture may have different ingredients. Carrefour France’s listing for the light Elle & Vire version mentions starch, while E.Leclerc’s listing for Bio Village thick cream gives pasteurised cream and lactic cultures.
Check the ingredients list if what’s in the cream matters as much as its texture.
A pack size suited to several recipes may leave you with leftovers once opened. Auchan France says its thick organic crème fraîche should be stored between +2 °C and +6 °C and used soon after opening.
Choose a quantity to suit your recipes and follow the storage and use-by instructions on your pot.
A retailer’s organic range doesn’t tell you exactly which crème fraîche is available at each store.
If your recipe depends on a particular product or pack size, check what your local store or online grocery service offers before you shop.
Président says its organic creams are made with French organic milk.
Its range includes a light thick organic cream with 12 % fat and a full-fat 30 % UHT pourable organic cream.
Carrefour France lists a 30 % thick organic crème fraîche under this brand.
E.Leclerc lists a 30 % thick organic crème fraîche in a 20 cl pot and a 30 % full-fat pourable organic cream in a 25 cl pack.
Auchan France lists a 30 % full-fat thick organic crème fraîche in a 50 cl pot.
Lidl France offers a range of products certified as organic.
Look for the EU organic logo or the AB mark on the product you choose. France’s Ministry of Agriculture explains these identifiers as part of organic certification; also check the product description and ingredients list on the pot.
Thick organic crème fraîche is a good choice if you want a creamy topping for your crêpes. Pourable organic cream is easier to drizzle or stir into a recipe. Elle & Vire, for example, presents its 30 % UHT pourable organic cream as suitable for sauces and hot dishes, so choose according to how you plan to use it.
No. Organic certification alone doesn’t determine the fat content. Carrefour France lists a 30 % full-fat thick organic cream, as well as Elle & Vire’s 12 % light thick organic cream, whose ingredients include starch.
Follow the storage temperature and use-by instructions after opening on your cream’s packaging. For its thick organic crème fraîche, Auchan France advises storing it between +2 °C and +6 °C and using it soon after opening. France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control also warns that breaking the cold chain can make a product unsafe to eat.