Cheese Expert Reveals Best Drink to Pair with Raclette, Better Than Wine!

When there’s a leftover potato, there’s missing cheese. When there’s leftover cheese, there’s a missing potato. After such a cycle, it’s no wonder a raclette evening often ends with the unbuttoning of pants. The culprit is a digestive system suffering from acidity, heaviness, and/or bloating – sometimes all three at once.

Indeed, as sociable as it may be, raclette is inherently indigestible, far less so than, say, a poached cod fillet with steamed green beans. Between the endless slices of cheese tossed carelessly into the pan and the vast assortments of cured meats, what you first encounter is a torrent of saturated fats hitting your stomach and slowing gastric emptying. Add to that a mountain of starch-rich potatoes, and you’ve got the perfect recipe to feel weighed down.

But the situation gets even trickier if you drink wine during your raclette party. Besides promoting dehydration, alcohol irritates the gastric mucosa. While our poor stomach struggles to process the rest of the meal, it seems prudent to spare it by filling our glasses differently. Interviewed by the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, cheese expert Julien Hazard recommends serving raclette… with green tea. “Tea is often drunk with raclette and fondue in Switzerland because it has properties that aid digestion”, he notes. This beverage indeed contains catechins that may slightly stimulate gastric and bile secretion, thereby aiding in the breakdown of lipids. Studies also suggest it might reduce the intestinal absorption of fats and starch. In practice, it’s mostly good for the conscience.

If you’re determined to put an end to the heaviness and bloating after a raclette, besides sipping tea at the table, consider greening up your plate by swapping some of the potatoes for lighter vegetables (like broccoli florets) or pairing your cheerful feast with a green salad. Your stomach will thank you.