Pastis

Pastis is a local aperitif that is both a cultural experience and a must-try before a meal in Provence. It is a 40–45% alcohol beverage with an aniseed flavor that is served with a small amount of chilled water or ice. Pastis and water combine in the glass to create a classic, extremely aromatic light yellow tint. Pastis is typically linked with lazy days in the shade, sometimes following a round of the Provençal boules game pétanque. The roots, though, are less calming.

Wine supply was significantly less than demand when the phylloxera disease decimated French vineyards in the middle of the 1800s. Despite the stories of hallucinations, people turned to absinthe, a liqueur with wormwood and anise that is heavily alcohol-based and frequently associated with bad behavior. It ultimately became illegal, along with other alcoholic beverages. Paul Ricard from Marseille came up with a substitute after noticing a gap in the market. Even though his botanical liqueur had a reduced alcohol content, it nevertheless had a distinct anise and licorice flavor character. Ricard and Pernod, both produced by the same corporation, Pernod Ricard, continue to dominate the pastis market despite an increase in artisanal manufacturing.