How do you drink pommeau?

Key facts

• Serve chilled. Normandie Tourisme describes pommeau as best served chilled. [1] The Pommeau de Normandie interprofession gives 8–10°C as the ideal serving temperature. [2]
• An aperitif. INAO describes Pommeau du Maine as an aperitif and a cousin of Pineau des Charentes: one is made from apple must and cider brandy, the other from grape must and Cognac. [3]
• Sweet and fairly strong. Pommeau is 16–18% ABV, with more than 69 g/L of sugar in Normandy. [4] [5]

How do I serve pommeau?

1. Chill the bottle to about 8–10°C, with or without ice. [2]
2. Use a small glass, like for other aperitifs of similar strength.
3. Pour a small measure. At 16–18% ABV, a 50 ml glass of pommeau at 17% is 0.85 units by the NHS formula (ABV × ml ÷ 1,000). [6]
4. Choose the moment: before the meal, with it, or after dinner in small sips. [2]

What food goes with pommeau?

With a meal, the Pommeau de Normandie interprofession suggests foie gras, melon, blue cheese, apple pie or chocolate desserts, and after dinner a thin square of dark chocolate. [2] Pommeau is also used in cooking, in meat and fish sauces, vinaigrettes, fruit salads or custard. [2]

Can you use pommeau in cocktails?

Yes. The interprofession recommends it for long drinks, such as the Pocito: pommeau, lemon and tonic. [2]

Is pommeau served like calvados?

Not usually. Calvados is a 40%+ brandy, often sipped after a meal from a tulip glass, while pommeau is lighter, sweeter and served chilled; what pommeau is compares the two drinks. [7]

Related answers: what pommeau is · where to buy pommeau

Find it on Cider Radar

• Normandy · Brittany: cider and calvados makers, many of whom also make pommeau.
• Glossary: pommeau
• Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.