The pastis drink is a favorite among those who use it to dilute it with water. This drink is made of herbs, aniseed, and flowers; you can also create a pastis tea. A lot of people around the world drink different kinds of alcohol to accompany their home-cooking or dining out with friends. There are many types of drinks that they can choose from such as beers, wines, spirits, etc. Each one offers a different taste and feeling in your mouth, but what is The Pastis Drink and how can it be used in the kitchen?
What is The Pastis Drink?
Pastis is an alcoholic beverage; a French one at that. It comes in two types and is considered as a digestif, traditionally consumed before dinner though it can be drunk throughout the day. Its characteristic flavor comes from the herbal substance gentian root which has been used for many years by the Greeks. Nowadays, many things have been replaced by newer ones which make today’s younger generations forget about old drinks like this.
Why Do Pasties Drink?
The Pastis drink is an alcoholic beverage that is mainly made from star anise, licorice, and liquor. It was first invented in Marseille in the year of 1798 by a pharmacist named Pierre-Jean Robiquet. Pastis drinks are made from a variety of ingredients that make them even more delicious. The original recipe is still found, but the drinks have been tailored to meet your needs. This strong alcohol is mainly consumed by ice cubes when properly served. The sweet taste of liqueur is perfect for those who like strong-tasting alcohol.
Moreso, Pastis Drink can be made at the comfort of your home if you have all the ingredients readily available. The following are the ingredients that you will need in order to make this French favorite alcohol drink: bitters, white anise seeds, cardamom seeds, fennel seeds, star anise, sugar syrup, and water. In addition, you will also need some other ingredients such as lemon juice, ice cubes, and water and you will also need a container to store your alcoholic drink in.
How to Drink Pastis?
There are a lot of ways to drink and enjoy your pastis drink. The most basic way to enjoy this drink is to first add the pastis drink to your cup and then add some amount of ice cubes and water. The most appreciated basic technique for amateurs is old-fashioned tasting. Before pouring water, you first need to serve pastis. The final step is to add ice cubes to the glass. You can find other delicious recipes for pasties in FrenchIceberg.
However, pastis comes in different varieties and brands, all of which are flavored with various herbs and spices. The most commonly available brand is Pernod Pastis, followed by Ricard. Anise, licorice, fennel, and orange flavors are the most popular, although there are a number of other varieties including ones made from cumin or lavender.
Preparing Pastis
If you are to prepare the Pastis yourself, it is necessary to mix an herbal liquor called “Anise” with alcohol and water in a barrel. Then, the contents are left to ferment for a period of 15 days. After this period, the liquor turns into a transparent liquid that has a pungent taste of Anise and alcohol. Pastis can be mixed with water or ice to make an “absinthe,” which is what the French call an apéritif. It can be served on ice or mixed with soda water for a “Sans-Soda.” This is what’s used to make the popular drink Absinthe Suissesse, or Absinthe Frappe, which is Absinthe mixed with crushed ice and cream.
Ingredients to Buy
The two main ingredients to buy when making homemade pastis are star anise and aniseed (anethole). The other ingredients that you will need are:
- 1 tablespoon of green cardamom pods ;
- 8 whole cloves ;
- 4 black peppercorns ;
- Sugar or honey syrup to taste.
Mix 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of sugar and add in 1/2 cup of anise alcohol. Add in whole star anise and 8 cloves (crushed) then boil. After boiling for about 10 minutes, remove from heat and let it steep for another 15 minutes. Strain out the star anise, cloves, and peppercorns (you can save these for later if you want). Now you have homemade pastis. It is not always recommended that you try to make this pastis drink at home because it requires some special equipment like vodka stills and vacuum distillation machines.
This process also needs some knowledge of how to properly use them so if you are curious about making your own pastis drink you should take a look online at how professional bartenders do it because they will teach you everything you need to know before you start experimenting with your own homemade batch.
Dishes to Try with Pastis
One major dish that goes well with pastis is Pasta Carbonara. A classic dish that goes well with anything including this drink, pasta carbonara has bacon, eggs, cheese, and pepper as its main ingredients. It usually takes less than half an hour to prepare so you can easily make it at home for your family or guests.
It’s also most common with seafood and fish, but it also works well with poultry and beef dishes. The drink goes especially well with the tartar sauce that goes so well with fried fish.
Conclusión
Pastis is drunk mostly in France, but also in Belgium and Italy. It is served as an aperitif and with water, but not mixed with other alcohol. It can be drunk neat, on ice, or mixed with water to produce a milky-green colored drink.
When you are looking for a drink to enjoy with your meal, it’s important for you to know what the best choice is. We’ve found that pastis makes a great choice. This flavored liqueur goes well with water and ice cubes. Although you can also add it to your favorite cocktails to make them more interesting. It also pairs well with both sweet and savory dishes.