Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, commonly referred to as Noirmoutier, is a commune located in the northern part of Ile de Noirmoutier, an island just off the coast of the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.
Noirmoutier is home to the most expensive potatoes in the world. Known as "La Bonnotte," only around 100 tons of this top quality potato are cultivated annually and it is harvested only on the island Noirmoutier. The cost of one kilogram can reach €500 (US $322 per pound), but the potatoes are normally sold for around €70 per kilo (US $45 per pound). The cost is attributed to the fact that this type of potato is almost extinct because it must be harvested by hand. The potato fields also require fertilization by seaweed in a climate shaped by the nearby sea. The presence of algae and seaweed in the soil is responsible for the potato's earthy and salty flavor. Because the variety is delicate and its tuber remains attached to its stem, the potato must be picked and not torn. The potatoes are generally served in top class restaurants in France and the Netherlands in mid May.
The commune is also known for its seafood dishes such as the Saint Gilles Croix de Vie barbecue grilled sardine and the baked germon tuna or mussels of the Bay de l'Aiguillon cooked in mouclade. Mojette beans, as with the rest of the region, are eaten with a knob of butter or as a side dish with ham, duck or lamb. The wines of the Vendean Strongholds date back to the Middle Ages. Brem sur Mer, Pissotte, Mareuil sur Lay et Vix are notable wines that belong to the DWHQ category (Delimited Wines of Higher Quality).
The commune was also part of the 2005 Tour de France.
