Pastis is an anise liqueur used to make a wonderful aperitif. You can buy it online from Ricard or Pernod. You might also call a local wine shop to see if they will order a bottle for you. Or, you can buy a bottle in Provence and bring it home with you the next time you travel to France. A bottle goes a long way.
Typically you mix a suitable mild aperitif with one part Pastis and 4 or 5 parts of water. The one pictured is 1 part Pastis and 3 parts water. This is better than eating a handful of licorice from the corner candy store:-)
If you can't travel to Provence this year, you'll at least feel like you've been there. The best way to do this is to prepare a Provencale meal and enjoy a glass or two of Pastis together before eating the meal. Then enjoy a good French wine with your meal. Bon appetite!
In the South of France you might drink two or three glasses of Pastis before sitting down to a dinner which will undoubtedly last the evening. One would then drink glasses of red wine with dinner.
Some Americans might be asking, just what is an aperitif or a digestif?
In France an aperitif is usually served to stimulate the appetite before a meal. It is sometimes served with an an appetizer of pate and toast points, cheese, or olives.
The French, Italians, Greek, Mexicans, and others often serve a drink after dinner which they call a digestif. The digestif purportedly as an aid to digestion. Some fortified wines such as sherry, port, and madeira are taken after dinner.
The French might drink champaign. When in Italy, one would take a glass of grappa or limoncello. When in Rhaddi-in-Chianti, Tuscany, one might prefer the grappa! It is made from distilling the residues from leftover stems and seeds of the grapevines. In Mexico one might drink a digestif of tequila. In Greece, Ouzo. OOPA! OOPA!.
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