Digestifs and aperitifs are alcoholic drinks served at the beginning and end of a meal, respectively, to aid digestion. They are traditionally ordered and come in different forms, with digestifs being heavier and more alcoholic. In the US, the dining experience is shorter, and digestifs are not offered as often.
A digestif is a drink served at the end of a meal that is meant to help digest your meal. Clearly, the root of the term is the same as that of the word “digestion”. Digestives and aperitifs are intended to reserve a meal, with an aperitif at the beginning and a digestif at the end. The terms come from the French language, but the drinks are used in cuisines outside France. For example, a digestif or aperitif can be enjoyed with Spanish, Moroccan and Greek dishes.
Digestifs and aperitifs are alcoholic beverages. Generally, apéritifs are lighter to pale yellow colored spirits. Lillet, for example, is a sweet floral spirit that is often consumed as an aperitif. On the other hand, digestifs are heavy spirits that are dark brown or red. Also, digestifs are often the more alcoholic of the two. Traditionally, both drinks are ordered. Common digestifs include armagnac, cognac, scotch, brandy and whiskey. There are some heavy, sweet wines that are served as digestifs. Madeira, port, and sherry are examples of wines that are sometimes used as digestifs. In addition to being heavier wines, they are also generally fortified.
It is quite common for restaurants to offer tea, espresso, cappuccino and other coffee drinks after a meal. In the traditional sense, however, these are not digestifs because they contain no alcohol. It is becoming more common to consume caffeinated beverages after a meal than alcoholic beverages. Many people are concerned about maintaining sobriety so that they can walk home or to their next destination after a meal. Having a strong drink just before leaving a restaurant could create hazards on the road.
Also, in the United States, the culinary culture is slightly different than in Europe. Restaurateurs expect to turn tables at least once in the evening. For this reason, the dining experience is often shorter than it is in Europe, where diners often stay at their table throughout the evening. It may be for this reason that digestifs are not offered as often in the United States as they are in Europe. There are, however, many traditional European restaurants in the United States that offer the full dining experience, including appetizers and digestifs.
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