Resin Fridge Magnet: France. Pastis de Marseille

Pastis and the Locales

This souvenir from France is designed to serve as a reminder of the good time you spent with the locales. Pastis is one of France most traditional drinks containing a 40% of alcohol. It is popular in the South which is coherent with the Mediterranean preference for anise which is the basic component of this drink.

Pastis is produced from herbs, mainly absinthe, and alcohol is added. It also contains another herb called licorice root which adds to the unique taste of this drink. From being a hand made beverage, it started to be commercialized in1932 by Paul Ricard. This started its consumption in the rest of France.

Ways to Drink Pastis

Many people prefer to mix Pastis with water which can be done before serving or some prefer to have the water separately to be able to mix in the percentages that they like. It is a perfect beverage to drink when it is really hot, and so cold water is mixed with Pastis while ice is rarely used.

But perhaps the best way to drink it it with neighbor villagers and old friends. The best bet for the visitor, to be able to taste the real Pastis, is to stop by a store, approach a group of villagers, who are surely drinking this beverage, and join them. You'll be welcome and offered Pastis rigtht away. Be prepared to listen to some old stories and laugh at the jokes. It is not time to be shy as you'll be probably be asked to share your own stories with them. The trick is that at some time you'll feel part of the villlge and that only means that Pastis is doing is work.