Apéritif and digestif
Apéritifs and digestifs ( and ) are drinks, typically alcoholic, that are normally served before (apéritif) or after (digestif) a meal.
Apéritifs
An apéritif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite, and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet. Common choices for an apéritif are vermouth; champagne; pastis; gin; rakı; fino, amontillado or other styles of dry sherry (but not usually cream sherry, which is very sweet and rich); and any still, dry, light white wine.
"Apéritif" may also refer to a snack that precedes a meal. This includes an amuse-bouche, such as crackers, cheese, pâté or olives.
"Apéritif" is a French word derived from the Latin verb aperire, which means "to open." The French slang word for "apéritif" is "apéro," although in France an "apéro" is also food eaten in the late afternoon/early evening.
History
St. Diadochos of Photiki, in his writing on the Christian Spiritual Life, On Spiritual Knowledge, states, "People who wish to discipline the sexual organs should avoid drinking those artificial concoctions which are called 'aperitifs'- presumably because they open a way to the stomach for the vast meal which is to follow." St. Diadochos was born around 400 A.D. and died sometime before 486 A.D. He was from Northern Greece and was a significant theologian during the Council of Chalcedon (451). Therefore, the use of apéritifs to affect one's consumption of food was a practice in the 5th century.
