Pastis

Provence's famous pastis (along with its close cousin, anis - they are both referred to as "aniseed spirits" on the Pernod-Ricard corporate website) began as a legal alternative to the recently-outlawed absinthe. 

After a long pause, some absinthe is now being manufactured in various parts of the world, and is available for sale in a variety of countries. It remains illegal in France (if fondly remembered) , however.

Selected Pastis Resources (in French)

• Le site non officiel du Pastis.
• Ricard.
• Le Pastis
• A recipe for for home-made pastis, in English.

Anis (in English)

• Pernod.