Summer in France runs on apéritif hours, and every member of our team has a drink they return to when the heat sets in.
Some of the refreshments that come to mind are classic drinks and cocktails unique to France; others were discovered on a first trip to the south or picked straight from the garden.
In this edition of MFCH Staff Favorites, the team shares the drinks they can’t get through summer without — ranging from sweet and herbal to fizzy and fruity — but always refreshing.
Pastis
Recommended by Nicola, MFCH Magazine Editor & Writer
My first encounter with pastis was on a visit to Provence during my first proper French heatwave. Sitting on a shady terrace with the temperature soaring, I quickly understood its enduring appeal.
Pastis belongs to a wider Mediterranean family of anise-based spirits (think ouzo, raki, arak, sambuca…) Served with ice and diluted with cold water, they are all meant to be enjoyed slowly, which makes them the perfect beverage to accompany a good book from your poolside chaise lounge, or watching the world go by from the shade of an olive tree.
In France, the best-known brands are Ricard and Pastis 51, both traditionally served as an apéritif. I confess that, for me, the ritual of the setup is a large part of the appeal: The server brings a tall glass filled with about 30 ml (about 1 oz) of pastis and a long spoon; a pitcher of cold water; and a bowl of ice cubes, leaving it to the drinker to control the dilution. (The traditional ratio is about 5-7 parts water to 1 part pastis, but really there are no rules.) When the water hits the amber liquid, a little chemical magic happens: the essential oils from the anise separate from the alcohol, transforming it to a milky yellow. Use the spoon to give the drink a stir; then (and only then) add an ice cube or two. Nothing tastes more like summer to me.
Sparkling Peach Cocktail
Recommended by Sharon, MFCH Founder & Editor-in-Chief
When we invite friends over in the summer, we often make a sparkling peach cocktail for pre-dinner drinks. Super simple, and very pretty in the glass.
We use a bottle of Prosecco, a handful of raspberries or blackberries puréed with sugar to taste, some slices of peach for decoration along with a sprig of rosemary or mint or even basil. If we want to add a little kick then we include a generous shot of rum with the raspberry purée.
Served from a tall jug and topped up with ice cubes, it never fails to please.
Kir Royale
Recommended by Maddy, MFCH Magazine Editor & Writer
I don’t drink them often, but nothing reminds me of summer in France quite like a Kir Royale. This classic French cocktail is made with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur), topped with Champagne — a sparkling twist on the traditional Kir, which uses white wine instead.
I was first introduced to it by my grandparents, who spent every summer in the Loire, and it’s a tradition that I’ve held dear ever since. Whether I order one on a Parisian terrace to mark the start of the season, or on the first night of a countryside holiday, to me, it’s a small celebration in a glass, and makes for the perfect apéritif: fresh, fizzy, fruity and fun!
Bissap
Recommended by Jessy, MFCH Customer Service Manager
I never thought there was any competition for lemonade until my French partner took me to a café for Bissap. The rosey elixir is usually sweet – perfect if you have a hankering for sugar like I do, but it can be served as a simple vitamin-rich tea as well.
This particular beverage is a national symbol for Senegal and is enjoyed in many countries across the Sahel region of West Africa.
It’s luxurious in color and easy to make or find at some cafés in Paris, such as the Café Quartier Jeunes and occasionally on the menu at Café Campana at the Musée D’Orsay.
Agua Fresca
Recommended by Sarah, MFCH Box & Boutique Manager
Growing up in Arizona, a refreshing drink in the summer is not a luxury — it is a necessity, and agua fresca has always been my go-to. Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits of the season, and this is the combination I come back to every year without fail.
Simply blend fresh watermelon with lime juice, add water to your liking, and serve over as much ice as your glass will hold with a wedge of lime on the rim. For me, it is never officially summer without it!
Verveine Tea
Recommended by Alizée, MFCH Travel & Tours Manager
I’ve always loved verveine, and in summer I like to drink it cold instead of as the usual hot tisane. We grow it in the garden, so I’ll just pick a few fresh leaves, let them infuse, and put the whole thing in the fridge with some lemon.
I don’t like drinks that are too sweet, especially when it’s hot, so this is perfect for me. It’s really fresh, you can drink it all day, and verveine is also known to be good for digestion and quite calming.
Nothing complicated, just fresh verveine from the garden, lemon, lots of ice and sometimes a little honey. That’s what I’ll be drinking most of the summer.
Limonade
Recommended by Olivia, MFCH Magazine Editor, Writer, and Brand Strategist
Not to be confused with lemonade, French limonade is a far cry from the sugary American drink of summer. Limonade is a fizzy citrus water, similar to Sprite or 7-Up, but less sweet.
The first time I had limonade in France, I had ordered it at an Italian restaurant in Nice, thinking it would be the bright yellow beverage I had grown up with. I was pleasantly surprised when I took a sip of this refreshing sparkling drink topped with a single slice of fresh lemon, and I order it with almost every meal in summer now.
The first limonade I tried — Lorina — is still my favorite, but many places in France will have a regional brand that always hits the spot with a local meal.
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