Rare, precise culinary vocabulary for near-native mastery: literary food words, wine-tasting terms, and advanced cooking techniques.
Free Food & Drink vocabulary flashcards at the C2 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and use these words precisely, including nuance most learners miss.
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degustation
a careful, appreciative tasting of food and drink to judge its quality
comestibles
a formal way of describing items of food to be eaten
viands
a literary word for food, especially fine and plentiful food
repletion
the state of being completely full after eating a large meal
piquancy
a pleasantly sharp and spicy quality in the taste of a food
astringency
a dry, puckering sensation in the mouth caused by certain foods and drinks
epicure
a person who takes great pleasure in fine food and drink
sustenance
food and drink that keeps a person alive and healthy
offal
the internal organs of an animal, sold and cooked as food
vintner
a person whose business is making and selling wine
confection
an elaborately made sweet dish, like a fancy pastry
larder
a small room used for storing food in a house
libation
a drink, especially an alcoholic one, enjoyed to mark a special occasion
nectar
a wonderfully sweet and delicious drink
gourmand
a person who enjoys eating large quantities of good food
sommelier
a person trained to serve and recommend wine in a restaurant
bouquet
a wine's distinctive and pleasant smell
terroir
the natural environment that gives a wine its distinctive local character
macerate
to soften fruit by soaking it in a sweet liquid before serving
blanch
to plunge food briefly into boiling water and then into cold water
render
to melt animal fat slowly by heating it until it becomes liquid
temper
to heat and cool a substance like chocolate carefully to stabilise it
clarify
to make a liquid like melted butter clear by removing solid bits
congeal
to change from a liquid into a thick, solid state as it cools
quaff
to drink something quickly and with great enjoyment
satiate
to satisfy someone's hunger so completely that they want no more
proof
to let dough rest so it can rise before it is baked
unctuous
excessively smooth, rich, and greasy in a way that feels indulgent
redolent
having a strong smell that vividly brings a particular memory to mind
saccharine
unpleasantly and excessively sweet
glutinous
thick and sticky, like glue, often used to describe cooked rice
desiccated
completely dried out, with all moisture removed
potable
safe and pleasant enough to drink
convivial
friendly, lively, and enjoyable, especially at a shared meal
voracious
having an extremely large appetite for food