Postdessert

Postdessert is a culinary term used to describe items, courses, or experiences that occur after the dessert portion of a meal. The term is not widely standardized and its meaning varies by context. In modern dining, it can denote an additional course, a palate-cleaning sequence, or a selection of small items intended to conclude the meal, such as petit fours, chocolates, pastries, or light beverages. Some restaurants frame postdessert as a distinct final course that contrasts with the dessert through different textures or flavors, or as a transition to digestifs or coffee service. The concept often appears in tasting menus or contemporary cuisine where courses are curated as a sequence rather than traditional courses.

Historically, traditional meals typically end with dessert, followed by coffee or liquor; the postdessert concept reflects more recent dining trends emphasizing after-meal experiences. It is sometimes used in marketing to convey novelty, but there is no universal standard for what qualifies as postdessert. In practice, a postdessert can be edible sweets, a beverage pairing, or a combination thereof, intended to offer closure or a final sensory note at the end of the course sequence. The term may also appear in blogs and menus to describe a closing segment that differs from conventional dessert or digestif offerings.