Pastis is a well-liked and well-known drink in France. We invite you to learn why this is so...

AN EXCEPTIONAL LAND

Every product of quality has a special place, a homeland which produces it better than anywhere else: Scotch whisky, cognac from Charente, and Provencal pastis.

But even in Provence there is a difference between pastis and Pastis. That of Forcalquier is manufactured in a distillery which is over one hundred years old. Situated in Forcalquier in Haute-Provence and a short walk away from the Montagne de Lure, it benefits from an exceptional site known for the diversity, richness, and quality of its plants.

This site is listed by the CNAC (National Council for the Culinary Arts) as a "Remarkable Site of Taste."

Only a hundred villages in France are so honored.

The Montagne de Lure is one of these rare and magical places. It's one of the regions of France, and of the world, where one can find the largest variety of plant species (more than 1700).

On the first slopes of the mountain, to the south, olives and other Mediterranian plants are found at an altitude of 600 meters. Here, the sun shines 300 days a year and the sky is remarkably pure. As the mountain rises little by little, the flora evolves until an altitude of 1800 meters. Among the species of this height is the famous gentian.

This wild land, unique in the world, allows us to have not only a large variety of plants, but also diversity in the same species (like armoise, sage, and thyme), to choose the altitude of harvest, the maturity and the taste of our plants.

Knowing and working this land permits us to select the perfect place and time for each of our harvests. This style of work was developed by the Romans who developed the trade in the plants of the Montagne de Lure along the road which ran across Provence from Italy to Spain.

During the Middle Ages, when plants were often used as medecine, those of the Montagne de Lure were well-known. Gradually, the locals began to use these plants to spice their dishes, then their wines and finally liquors, creating a veritable art.

THE ART OF THE FORCALQUIER DISTILLERY

This evolution and natural wealth quickly gained recognition for the liquors of Montagne de Lure.

At the turn of the century, Forcalquier had a dozen distilleries. After the Second World War, only three remained.

Today, Distilleries et Domaines de Provence is the sole heir of these recipes and ancestral knowledge. We continue to use the plants of the region and keep our business local. We are constantly improving our pastis, and in 1990 we launched a Pastis "a l'ancienne," just like our grandparents knew. "Pastis" means "mixture" in Provencal. Recent improvements by Forcalquier have resulted in a veritable crossbreeding.

In fact, even though Provencal plants give an exceptional quality to our pastis, it would be impossible to make without several plants and spices from around the world.

Therefore, each continent contributes a little to the quality of our Pastis, creating an aperitif rich, savory, and refreshing. In order to better understand, we will give you the details of 12 of the 50 plants and spices used exclusively by Forcalquier in the fabrication of our Pastis, the rest are part of the secret recipe... Bon voyage!

Provence	Food & Drink	Christmas in Provence
Traditions	Pastis	Provence Bulletin Board