Pastis, A Drink For A Relaxing Afternoon In The South Of France
By TDF. Filed in Uncategorized |
You’re in a hammock, gazing lazily over the Cote d’Azur. A glass of
pastis in one hand, the other hand dangling in the tall sweet grass.
The warm air drifts in from the mediterranean past the ancient stone
walls and rustles the silver green sun filtering branches over your
head. You have resolved to never set foot in the ‘rat race’ again.
And even if you can’t stick to your resolve forever, at least
enjoy the moment with your glass of pastis. It is a drink to be enjoyed
leisurely, and since it has a rather potent alcohol content, it should
not be rushed. It is best lightly sipped and even put down out of view
a time or two, drawing out the ritual.
Pastis, in case you are wondering is a very popular drink in
Provence. Seen on many beverage menus of U.S. restaurants as well,
pastis is a licorice or anise flavored spirit meant to be enjoyed
slowly.
Pastis is descended from the notorious absinthe, a mind numbing
distillation popular in France until early this century. Absinthe was
banned in France in 1915 and was blamed for murders, criminal unsanity,
and even of Van Gogh’s hacking off of his own ear. Despite the colorful
vintage posters, absinthe is ugly stuff, and although can still be had
by foolhardy risk takers, it is advised to stay clear of it. Pastis is
the sane descendent.
Pastis is made from alcohol and distilled herbs or herbal
extracts. Chief among them is grand wormwood and green anise; and
almost always including three other herbs - petite wormwood, fennel and
hyssop. Star anise is sometimes substituted for the green anise.
Pastis with its sweet licorice taste should be taken from a
tall narrow glass. Add some ice cubes and slowly pour the pastis over
the ice. Then add water. The general measurement is 1/3 pastis and 2/3
water. Then you can add more ice as you go along - many prefer up to 4
parts water to one part pastis.
It is considered a daytime drink and a real thirst quencher. It
can be mixed with grapefruit juice for a sweet-tart flavor. A handful
of crisp almonds is a good accompanient.
There are several brands sold in the United States, many
distinguished by the variety of spices added, like cinnamon, cloves,
cardamom, pepper and nutmeg. Among the brands available here are Pastis
51 - very viscous and pungent; Ricard, a popular pastis in the States
similar to Pastis 51; Baldanis, dry with the essence of anise; and Jean
Boyer, a dry aromatic bouquet said to contain 24 herbs and 12 spices.
There is also a non alcoholic pastis called Pacific. Pernod is another
brand that is handled like pastis but is not really pastis. It is
actually distilled from a wine flavored with anise, fennel and other
herbs. It tastes similar and is served in the same way as pastis.
Enjoy a pastis on your next afternoon sojourn. If even on your
own back porch, sit back, tip your drink and enjoy the scents of the
warm mediterranean summer breeze as it slips over the lavendar Provence
fields and meandering stone walls just a little bit beyond the horizon.
