What we have had to drink in France

 

Kir: served at a meal we enjoyed in Avignon in 2016.

Kir, a mixture of white wine and crème de cassis, was a traditional aperitif in Burgundy. After World War II, it was renamed to honor a resistance hero, Canon Félix Kir, who was later mayor of Dijon. In 2008, I wrote this about Kir: Our friend Michelle in Paris (the best cook in the world) serves radishes in a bowl with unsalted butter on the side and no bread! These go with an aperitif like Kir or even whiskey, before the first course in one of her fabulous French meals. 

Participating in Paris in July with other bloggers has me thinking of all those good times in France, especially about hot summer days and cooling drinks or chilly mornings and a really good cup of coffee!

Pastis: a mixture of Pernod and ice water, sometimes with a splash of grenadine.
The clear water turns cloudy when the Pernod is stirred in.
This drink is traditional in summer in Provence. (source)

Chartreuse: one of many French liqueurs.
The monks who make it are making less these days. (source)

After a French meal, sometimes liqueurs, "digestifs," or other alcoholic beverages may be served. Many years ago, we spent several months in Grenoble, near the Grand Chartreuse monastary where the liqueur is made, so for a long time it was one of our favorites. We haven't had it for a long time. Other French liqueurs we learned to like while in France include Bénédictine, Grand Marinier, and Cointreau.

Coffee and orange juice for breakfast in a Paris sidewalk cafe.
Orange juice is a recent addition to a French breakfast.

Tea is another favorite of many Parisians. Here are some special teas at 
Dammann Frères, Paris, which has been in business since 1692.

Wine on the table at our friend Michelle's apartment in Paris, 2014.
Bread and wine and a bottle of water. Yes, most of the French homes where 
I’ve had meals did serve tap water as well as wine.

Cuisine et Vins de France, 1976. Always wine!

And you can get soft drinks in supermarkets and cafes anywhere in Paris (though ice cubes have not always been provided)

Random google search provided a photo of Coke: this cafe evidently didn’t
run out of ice cubes.

ORANGINA!

For more about Pschitt, see my post here.

And of course there’s always Perrier!

Blog post to be shared with Elizabeth's blog party and with Paris in July.