Why is this the most expensive chicken in the world?

A small town in the east of France may seem like a long way to try a chicken dish, but for many it's worth the trouble.

Chef Jean-Michel Carrette runs one of the Michelin-starred restaurants in Tournous.

He has managed to keep this star thanks to the high quality of chicken meat on his menu.

The taste of the chicken is far from that of supermarket chickens, while the price of chickens starts at 40 euros per kilo in Paris butcher shops.

The 'Bresse' chicken is actually the favorite of all the Michelin chefs, as well as the French presidents.

François Hollande refused to be served anything else, while even Emmanuel Macron is said to be an ardent fan.

Chickens are raised in the historic region of Bresse. But since France exports only 5% of its production, you have to travel to this region to taste it.

The chicken is so important to the area that it is mentioned several times in medieval documents.

"The history of the Bresse chicken can be traced through a series of documents detailing how farmers paid their rents with chickens and donated them to invading armies. It is mentioned for the first time in 1591, when it tells how the citizens of Bourg-en-Bresse offered two dozen poultry to the Marquis of Treffort because he had sent the troops to Savoy," says Marie-Paule Meunier, from the promotion committee of these chickens.

In this region, the cultivation of corn began soon after its arrival from the New World, so Bresse is apparently the first corn-fed chicken.

The chicken's fame spread in the 19th century, helped by the fact that they coincide with the colors of the French flag, blue legs, white body and red foreskin.

The last accolade came 60 years ago, when the Bresse chicken became the first living thing to receive a certificate of origin protection, valid throughout the European Union, something usually given to things like champagne, Parma ham, etc.

In the Bresse region there are about 180 farms that raise such chickens. The Laurency family farm raises about 20 Bresse chickens a year.

"Not only must a certified chicken be raised in Bresse, but it must also eat only food grown in this region," says one of the family members, as he points out that the chickens are released freely in the fields, while by law they must have 10 square meters of space each.

The feed mix is ​​also very specific: 700 kilograms of corn, 300 kilograms of wheat and 70% dried milk. The food is deliberately low in protein so that the chickens look for insects, worms or snails, as well as grass for their diet, according to "scan.tv", Sekulli reports.

The farm buys the birds from a breeding center that guarantees the purity of the breed. The birds cost from $2.4 each, unlike other breeds that can be bought for 35 cents apiece.

Most Bresse chickens are slaughtered when they reach 4 months of age, while pullets are allowed to live a month longer.

The month of December is the period with the highest consumption, on which there is also an agricultural festival that dates back to 1862. During the 4 days of the holiday, parties are held in various markets, while a prize is also given to the best chicken farmers.