Charcuterie are products traditionally sold by charcutiers (pork butchers) made primarily from pork or offal. In France charcuterie refers to the shop as well.
It includes cured and cooked meats, sausages – both fresh and smoked, pâtés, black puddings and salamis.
Charcuterie was originally used as a way to preserve meat before that days of refrigeration, but nowadays is appreciated for the flavours created by the preserving process.
Varieties of familiar charcuterie are saucisson, chorizo, pepperoni, prosciutto, Serrano ham, salami, pancetta, pastrami (beef brisket) and confit of duck.