{"id":2114,"date":"2014-04-23T15:46:11","date_gmt":"2014-04-23T15:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2014-04-28T01:55:47","modified_gmt":"2014-04-28T01:55:47","slug":"5-italian-drinks-to-whet-your-appetite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/5-italian-drinks-to-whet-your-appetite\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Italian Drinks To Whet Your Appetite"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like their cuisine, wine and coffee are as much a part of Italian tradition and culture as arts, music, and fashion \u2013 and although we\u2019ve come up with our top five, we could have easily done a top 500!<\/p>\n

Of course, much has been discussed about Italian wines, and there aren\u2019t many of us in Blighty who haven\u2019t sampled a prosecco, Chianti, or Soave. Similarly, coffee has become as much of an institution here as tea used to be, so let\u2019s look at some wonderful Italian drinks that we\u2019re not so au fait with, and are great to sample when you\u2019re next over there:<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Anne Jacko<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Aperol<\/b><\/h3>\n

Like most Europeans, the Italians love their pre-dinner drinks, in fact, you could say the Italians invented the aperitif, with such a huge selection deriving from their shores: Martini; Cinzano; and Campari, just to name a few.<\/p>\n

But one of our favourites is the lesser known Aperol \u2013 an aperitif that originated in 1919, which is made from bitter orange, rhubarb, herbs, and quina (also used in quinine).<\/p>\n

Unlike its more internationally acclaimed companions, Aperol is a milder and less alcoholic version, and is usually served with prosecco as popular drink called Spritz.<\/p>\n

But, as the official sponsor of the MOTO Grand Priz international circuit, and a recent partnership with Manchester United FC as their official spirit partner, we may be hearing a lot more about this little drink that could!<\/p>\n

2. Bellini<\/b><\/h3>\n

Like the aforementioned aperitifs, you\u2019ll be surprised by how many cocktails started from humble beginnings in Italy.<\/p>\n

The Negroni, a gin, campari and martini cocktail, originated in Florence circa 1919, and the Martini cocktail was created by an Italian immigrant at New York\u2019s Knickerbocker Hotel in 1910, but the most famous of all must be the Bellini.<\/p>\n

The world famous combo of peach puree and bubbles started life in a Venice bar in 1934, and was popular with regulars like Ernest Hemmingway and Orson Welles, but now is enjoyed all around the world, as well as being an official drink of the International Bartenders Association.<\/p>\n

3. Limoncello<\/b><\/h3>\n

Italy is also home to the liqueur, and the clear schnapps like Grappa, made from discarded bits of grapes, would have to be the most famous of all.<\/p>\n

But add in some lemons, and you\u2019ve got Limoncello, served cold, you\u2019ll find one in every nonna\u2019s<\/i> fridge!<\/p>\n

This drink is particularly popular around Naples, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast, probably because of the predominance of lemons in the region, but it\u2019s also becoming commercially successful as far away as the United States as wine makers recognise the benefits of using all the grape waste, and it\u2019s super cheap and easy to make.<\/p>\n

\u00a04. Cynar<\/b><\/h3>\n

For something a bit different, check out Limoncello\u2019s not so famous cousin, Cynar \u2013 an artichoke flavoured drink.<\/p>\n

Sounds awful, but as the artichoke makes up just one of the 13 plants and herbs involved in this secret recipe, it\u2019s actually quite pleasant!<\/p>\n

At 33% proof it\u2019s got quite a kick, so although it\u2019s popular on the rocks, it\u2019s usually served with a mixer of tonic water or orange juice.<\/p>\n

5. Bombardino<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re lucky enough to find yourself skiing in the Alps, one of the highlights of apr\u00e8s ski life is the Italian winter favourite, the Bombardino.<\/p>\n

This is the perfect combo of hot coffee, served with brandy, rum, or whisky, as well as the egg based liqueur, Advocaat. It lives up to its name, as it really is \u201cThe Bomb\u201d!<\/p>\n

The Italians have contributed so much to today\u2019s society, thanks largely to the invading Romans, and we really have to thank them for the language, cuisine, arts, roads, music, and of course, their drinks \u2013 where would we be without them? Now, when life gives me lemons, I\u2019m going to make Limoncello!<\/p>\n

To really make the most out of visiting Italy and sampling these fabulous beverages, brush up on your language skills \u2013 check out your current Italian level here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Marler<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like their cuisine, wine and coffee are as much a part of Italian tradition and culture as arts, music, and fashion \u2013 and although we\u2019ve come up with our top five, we could have easily done a top 500! Of course, much has been discussed about Italian wines, and there aren\u2019t many of us in(\u2026)<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t \t\t\t\tCONTINUE READING »<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,236,27],"tags":[325,38,258],"class_list":["post-2114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food","category-must-know","category-humour-offbeat","tag-drinks","tag-italian","tag-italy"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Italian Drinks To Whet Your Appetite<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Italy is home to so many wonderful drinks, and we\u2019ve managed to narrow it down to just five, but the list could go on forever!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/5-italian-drinks-to-whet-your-appetite\/\" \/>\n<meta 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