eau-de-vie de poire
(pear brandy)
If you are looking for how to say “pear brandy” in French or need the term for travel, dining, or shopping purposes, here is a clear guide.
The French term for pear brandy
The standard French term for pear brandy is eau-de-vie de poire. This literally means “water of life of pear” and is the official phrase for distilled pear spirit.
Popular type: Poire Williams
One of the most well-known types of pear brandy in France is Poire Williams. This is made from Williams pears and is widely available. You may also see:
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eau-de-vie de poire Williams
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Poire Williams
In stores or restaurants, Poire Williams usually refers to high-quality pear brandy.
When a whole pear is inside the bottle
Some pear brandy bottles contain a whole pear. This style is called Poire Prisonnière. The pear is grown inside the bottle while still on the tree, then distilled and filled with eau-de-vie.
How it appears on menus or labels
In French-speaking countries, you may see these phrases on labels or menus:
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digestif : eau-de-vie de poire
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liqueur de poire
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poire à l’eau-de-vie
These can refer to pure pear brandy or pear preserved in brandy.
Common uses
In restaurants
Pear brandy is often served as a digestif. You may see it listed after dessert options under the word digestifs.
In cooking
Pear brandy can be used in desserts or sauces. A typical example is:
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poires flambées à l’eau-de-vie
This is a dessert made by flaming pears in pear brandy.
Related terms
If you are shopping or reading French recipes, you may come across:
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eau-de-vie de fruits (fruit brandy)
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spiritueux de poire (pear spirit)
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alcool de poire (pear alcohol)
These can sometimes be used more broadly but often refer to pear-based distilled drinks.