campari and chinotto
These are 2 of my favourite things to drink in Italy. I had no idea they are both made from a fruit called chinotto. I didn’t even know there was such a thing. Had I been more observant I might have noticed the picture on the chinotto bottle before now. Apparently a chinotto is an orange like fruit with a bitter taste, grown in Malta, Liguria, Tuscany, Sicily and Calabria.
chinotto
Chinotto has been around since the 1950s. It looks like coke, but I think it tastes much better. It has a slightly bitter taste and is very refreshing over ice with a slice of lemon or blood orange.
a cool drink on a hot day
Campari has been with us a lot longer. Gaspare Campari first made his dark red aperitivo in 1860 in the city of Novara. His recipe is still a closely guarded secret. The drink was originally coloured with carmine dye derived from crushed cochineal insects. I wonder if that added a yummy insect taste as well as colour.
Campari can be served alone over ice, or mixed with soda or orange juice.
campari on ice
As well as the large bottles, it is also possible to buy Campari in individual bottles mixed with soda. The cute little bottle was designed in 1932 by Fortunato Depero. There is a non alcholic version available in small bottles too.
the iconic bottles
I love to sit at the Bar Italia in the evening, sipping my Campari and watching the world go by. Salute!
salute!