Suze Saveur d’Autrefois Gentian Aperitif. Suze is a French bitter liqueur primarily flavored by yellow gentian root. Gentian is a suuuuper popular herbal ingredient used in a lot of famous botanical liqueurs – Campari, Angostura bitters, and many more. Suze (and its sister products like Salers, Aveze, etc) will give you the best idea of what gentian root actually tastes like, as it’s much more gentian-dominant than other liqueurs.

And so what does it taste like? Suze tastes like running through a blooming flower field as a child, falling on your face and (literally) eating dirt, then being rewarded with an orange marmalade muffin drizzled with honey. It’s very earthy (like, DIRT earthy), yet has a floral and bright backbone, with a strong finish of honey sweetness. Though Suze is overall very sweet and a bit thick, the gentian component brings that intense earthiness and bitterness that lingers at the back of the throat.

Gentian is a class of flowering plants, best known for their roots which have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Studies have shown its efficacy in treating digestive-related problems and even cancer. Its ability to trigger the digestive process (salivation, open up the appetite, kick off digestion) is what makes many gentian liqueurs a critical mealtime accompaniment!

Final note: Suze Saveur d’Autrefois (available in the US market) is different from European Suze. The US version is higher proof and supposedly more similar to the original 19th century recipe for the spirit. “Saveur d’Autrefois” means “old/original flavor.”

For recipe ideas with Suze, click here!