Ricard is a pastis, an anise and licorice-flavored aperitif, created by Marseille native Paul Ricard in 1932, who marketed it as the "true pastis from Marseille". Paul Ricard's justification for the name was "I am willing to put my name on it, because I am sure of the quality of this pastis and proud of its unique taste".
 
The Ricard brand is the global leader in anise-based alcohols, with more than 40 million litres of Ricard sold each year. Its ingredients including star anise, liquorice, fennel and aromatic plants and called it ‘Pastis of Marseille’.
This taste of Provence would become a world-famous brand and one of the keystones of Pernod Ricard and is continuing to write the rules for pastis-ology with new Mediterranean flavors.