frmichelin1-7, Exercise 3: "This dish tastes of its terroir"

Model answer (check the details):

What the claim means: that the flavour comes from the place: soil, climate, local breeds or varieties, and the traditional way of preparing the food.

Evidence that would support it:
1. A protected name (such as an AOC) with a written specification of area and method, which shows that the product is defined by place.
2. Blind tasting in which trained tasters can reliably tell the local product from others.
3. Records that the variety, feed or method are really local.

What the claim might hide:
1. Marketing: the word is also used to sell products with little connection to the place.
2. Change: the "traditional" method may be recent, or the ingredients may be imported.
3. Taste is subjective, and the expectation created by the name can influence what people say they taste.

Verdict method: apply the six questions (Chapter 10): who says it, what is the evidence, can it be tested, is there a motive to sell, and so on.

Care: a protected name is evidence of definition, not proof of quality.