Pastis

Pastis ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|p|æ|s|t|ɪ|s}}, {{IPAc-en|US|p|æ|ˈ|s|t|iː|s}}, {{IPA|fr|pastis|lang}}; {{langx|oc|pastís}} {{IPA|oc|pasˈtis|}}) is an anise-flavoured spirit and apéritif traditionally from France, typically containing less than 100 g/L sugar and 40–45% ABV (alcohol by volume).

Origins

Pastis was first commercialized by Paul Ricard in 1932 and enjoys substantial popularity in France, especially in the southeastern regions of the country, mostly Marseille and the departments of the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Var.[http://www.lamaisondupastis.com/images/pastis/pastisgb.htm Pastis... The history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225034432/http://www.lamaisondupastis.com/images/pastis/pastisgb.htm |date=25 December 2020 }}. La Maison du Pastis (The Pastis House, Marseille). Accessed 25 March 2010. Pastis emerged some 17 years after the ban on absinthe, during a time when the French nation was still apprehensive of high-proof anise drinks in the wake of the absinthe debacle.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13159863 | work=BBC News | title=Absinthe in France: Legalising the 'green fairy' | date=4 May 2011}} The popularity of pastis may be attributable to a penchant for anise drinks that was cultivated by absinthe decades earlier, but is also part of an old tradition of Mediterranean anise liquors that includes sambuca, ouzo, arak, rakı, and mastika. The name "pastis" comes from Occitan "pastís," a mash-up or blend.

Composition

By legal definition, pastis is described as an anise-flavoured spirit that contains additional flavor of liquorice root, contains less than 100 grams per litre of sugar, and is bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV (pastis) or 45% ABV (pastis de Marseille).[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32008R0110:EN:HTML Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89]. Official Journal L 039, 13 February 2008 P. 0016 – 0054. Accessed 8 December 2011. While pastis was originally artisanally produced from whole herbs like most spirits at the time of its creation, modern versions are typically prepared by mixing base alcohol with commercially prepared flavorings (essences and/or extracts) and caramel coloring.{{cite web|author1=David de la Chesnaye |author2=Danièle Boone |author3=Delphine Poracchia |author4=Stéphanie Poncelet |author5=Damien Bismuth |author6=Elizabeth James |url=http://www.france-la-visite.com/english/way_of_life/provence/provence.html#pastis |title=The way of life in Provence |publisher=France-la-visite.com |access-date=26 April 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=10098001000225 |title=OMB No. 1513-0020 |publisher=Ttbonline.gov |access-date=26 April 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=10049001000040 |title=OMB No. 1513-0020 |publisher=Ttbonline.gov |access-date=26 April 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=02317003000052 |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511200408/https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=02317003000052 |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=01151000000077 |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511200311/https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=01151000000077 |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}

Pastis is often compared with its historical predecessor, absinthe, yet the two are quite different. Pastis was created years following the prohibition of absinthe, and traditionally does not contain grand wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), the herb from which absinthe derives its name. Also, pastis far more commonly obtains its anise flavour from star anise,{{cite web |last1=Zavatto |first1=Amy |title=Everything You Need to Know About Anise-Flavored Spirits |url=https://www.liquor.com/anise-spirits-5085280 |website=Liquor.com |publisher=Dotdash |access-date=28 February 2021}}{{cite web |title=Pastis: The Star of Provence Aperos |url=https://provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en/provence/get-inspired/lifestyle/pastis-the-star-of-provence-aperos/ |website=Provence - Enjoy the Unexpected |publisher=Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism Board |access-date=28 February 2021}}{{cite web |title=Pass the Pastis: A History of France's 2nd Favourite Drink |url=https://www.francetoday.com/food-drink/wine_and_spirits/pass_the_pastis/ |website=France Today |date=5 June 2013 |access-date=28 February 2021}} an Asian spice, whereas absinthe traditionally obtains its base flavour from a distillation of green anise and fennel, both Mediterranean herbs.{{cite book |last1=Duplais |first1=P. |title=Traite de la Fabrication de Liqueurs et de la Distillation des Alcools |date=1882 |location=France |pages=385–381 |edition=Third}}{{cite book |last1=Fritsch |first1=J. |title=Nouveau Traité de la Fabrication des Liqueurs |date=1926 |location=France |pages=385–401}} Additionally, pastis typically exhibits some degree of flavour derived from liquorice root, which is not traditionally employed for absinthe. Where bottled strength is concerned, traditional absinthes were bottled at 45–74% ABV, while pastis is typically bottled at 40–50% ABV. Finally, whereas traditional absinthe is invariably a dry spirit, pastis may be bottled with sugar.

Serving

File:Neat pastis in a whisky glass.jpg

Pastis is normally diluted with water before drinking, generally five volumes of water for one volume of pastis, but often neat pastis is served together with a jug of water for the drinker to blend together according to preference. The resulting decrease in alcohol percentage causes some of the constituents to become insoluble, which changes the liqueur's appearance from dark transparent yellow to milky soft yellow, a phenomenon also present with absinthe and known as louche or the ouzo effect. The drink is consumed cold and considered a refreshment for hot days. Ice cubes can be added (after the water, to avoid crystallization of the anethole in the pastis). Many pastis drinkers decline to add ice, preferring to drink the beverage with cool spring water.

Although consumed throughout France, pastis is generally associated with southeastern regions of the country, particularly the city of Marseille, where it is nicknamed Pastaga, and with such clichés of the Provençal lifestyle as pétanque.

130 million litres are sold each year (more than two litres per inhabitant in France).{{cite web |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/eco-entreprises/20060811.FIG000000159_ricard_regagne_du_terrain_dans_la_guerre_du_pastis.html |title=Ricard regagne du terrain dans la guerre du pastis |access-date=5 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929132742/http://www.lefigaro.fr/eco-entreprises/20060811.FIG000000159_ricard_regagne_du_terrain_dans_la_guerre_du_pastis.html|author=Jean-Francois Arnaud|date= 11 August 2006 |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}

Chemistry

Pastis beverages become cloudy when diluted because they are anise-based. Such beverages contain oils called terpenes, which are soluble in an aqueous solution that contains 30% ethanol or more by volume. When the solution is diluted to below 30% ethanol, the terpenes become insoluble; this causes a dispersion of oil droplets to form in the solution, giving the liquid a cloudy appearance. The same chemistry causes absinthe to become cloudy when diluted.{{cite journal

|last=Vitale

|first=Stephen A.

|author2=Joseph L. Katz

|date=May 2003

|title=Liquid Droplet Dispersions Formed by Homogeneous Liquid-Liquid Nucleation: The Ouzo Effect

|journal=Langmuir|volume=19|issue=10|pages=4105–4110

|publisher=American Chemical Society

|doi=10.1021/la026842o

}}