Pastis in Provence & French Riviera 2025
The favourite apéritif of Provence
Best time: May–September
This anise-based liquor is best enjoyed in with the right atmosphere. Peter Mayle, a British writer famous for his books about life in the South of France, wrote: "I cannot imagine drinking it in a pub in Fulham, a bar in New York, or anywhere that requires its customers to wear socks. It wouldn't taste the same. There has to be heat and sunlight and the illusion that the clock has stopped. I have to be in Provence". And we are absolutely with him! Pastis simply should not be drunk in a hurry. You have to sit down in a sunny seaside café, relax, and enjoy the offbeat herbal taste of this drink. The locals adore it, especially in summer when it's usually mixed with fruit syrups or orgeat—an almond-flavoured syrup.