What are palate-cleansing foods?

Sorbet, celery sticks, raw tart apples and parsley are all palate-cleansing foods. They freshen the mouth and stimulate the appetite to prepare diners for the next course.

Palate cleansers are light foods or beverages served in the middle of a long meal, common with French cuisine. They provide a break and remove flavors from the mouth so that the next course tastes fresh. Some palate cleansers minimize the risk of heartburn and indigestion. Mint, citrus and apple sorbets top the list of traditional palate cleansers in many parts of France. In Normandy, a shot of apple brandy is common mid-meal to cleanse the palate.