Déguster

Déguster is a French verb meaning to taste or sample something with the intention of evaluating its flavor. In culinary contexts it refers to tasting food, beverages, or ingredients to appreciate quality, balance and complexity. The term is also central to wine culture, where déguster implies a careful examination of appearance, aroma, flavor and texture during a tasting session.

Etymology: from Old French deguster, ultimately from Latin degustare meaning to taste, formed from de- and gustare “to taste.” The root gust- appears across Romance languages and in related English terms such as degustation, though deguster is primarily used in French.

Usage and process: A tasting involves judging appearance, aroma, taste, texture and finish. In wines, tasters note color, clarity, bouquet, and palate evolution. The act emphasizes savoring and reflection rather than immediate swallowing, and it may accompany a formal dégustation with notes and scoring.

Related terms: Dégustation (a tasting event), dégustateur or dégustatrice (a taster). Conjugation: je déguste, tu dégustes, il déguste, nous dégustons, vous dégustez, ils dégustent; passé composé: j'ai dégusté.