The geese farmers in Europe harvest the down by hand so that the birds are not harmed in the process. They can harvest the feathers every six weeks when the birds naturally molt. Raising geese for their down is a long-standing tradition in Hungary which the geese farmers take a lot of pride in.

There are strict guidelines in Europe for the harvesting, processing and cleaning of goose down. Harmful chemicals are banned and the textile mills are some of the most technologically advanced in the world. Because of the high standards of cleaning and drying the down, most of the down products that come from Europe will be hypoallergenic.

You may also hear about down products from Siberia or Asia. “Siberian down” is really just a trademarked name – products with this description are made from down from anywhere in the world. There are geese in Siberia, but they migrate south for the winter and their feathers are black and red and not used to stuff pillows. Asian down typically comes from Chinese geese that are small and produce low quality down that is more like a commercial grade used to stuff children’s toys.

When purchasing a down pillow, check to see if it is all down or a mixture of down and feathers. Many pillows will have a combination of the two, with the feathers in an inner core providing the firmness and support, and the down in the outer layer, providing the softness and comfort. So if you require more support, choose a pillow with a higher percentage of goose feathers.

If you are planning to invest in a high quality Hungarian goose down pillow, make sure that it has a nice pillow covering with a high thread count for protection and durability. Look for a fill power between 650 and 800 for the best loft and comfort. Be prepared that companies shipping directly from Europe may require you to purchase two pillows because of the high shipping costs. Most people say that once you sleep on a good down pillow, you’ll never use anything else, so ordering two might be a good idea anyway.