Ok, I tried Campari and Aperol drinks in Italy this past June. I kept trying to like them but they were too bitter. So, i guess i never acquired the taste. Does this Cynar taste like that?

Lori

I dont think that Campari is bitter Lori..Anyway Cynar is very very bitter but quite healthy.

Maybe it was whatever they mixed it with? It was a Campari spritz and it was so bitter I couldnt drink it. Came in a tall glass over ice. My husband tasted it and kept saying that they must have made a mistake...

What does Campari taste like straight up? I am so confused now...

http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2005-...feature_3.html
It must be Ferna Branca.
Campari and Ferna both have gentian which gives the bitter taste.

Fernet Branca! That is it Lavenderdrye, thank you, thank you!! I have been been trying to remember for the last couple of weeks, kind of like trying to remember a name of a song, and I forgot to ask a friend in Italy when we talked a couple of nights ago.

Kismet, thank you for the detailed information about Cynar. I am going to write that down too. I don't know if I have ever had it or not. It sounds quite interesting..and I sure love artichokes.

Thanks to all of you..it became like a guessing game didn't it, lol. I appreciate your efforts.

We will have a Beverage&More open up here real soon. They always seem to have a wonderful selection from all over the world. They will be located in what was the very well known NutTree complex on the west(north?) side of I-80 in Vacaville as the NutTree is being brought back to life.
Underhill, did you know??

Regarding Compari. I must say I don't have a sweet tooth, so real sweet drinks don't really appeal to me. Compari is a drink I became acquainted with in Italy back in the 70's. I find it a refreshing late afternoon drink but some people do not like it. I did not know for ages the red color is from crushed bugs from South America (think South America). Kistmet, do you know? I am sure if I knew that before I had my first glass of it I would have never tasted it, lol. Cin,cin dear Fodorites.

And see how your fun thread solved a problem for me Underhill? Grazie!

Hmmm... Crushed bugs in South America.... sounds like a good title for posting a trip report. But for my list of favorite drinks...

I think I might stick to Bellini's ....

LoveItaly, it could be Black Sambucca! Looks like sump oil, tastes of herbs and aniseed and has a nice lingering warm afterburn !

chicagolori, I found this article about crushed bugs..Very interesting..

<Lipstick and Ice Cream Contain Bug Juice ..http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?i...0&sparte=4

Campari is a branded alcoholic beverage (between 20-24% alcohol by volume) introduced in Italy in 1860 by Gaspare Campari: it is a mild bitters-type apéritif, often drunk with soda, orange juice, or in mixed drinks. Though the recipe is a proprietary secret, its characteristic flavor is bitter orange peel. There is an Italian soft drink, Chinotto which has a similar flavour and it seems likely the Chinotto fruit could form part of the flavouring of Campari. Campari's bright red color comes from natural carmine, which is derived from cochineal, which is used in other Italian alcoholic drinks, as for example Alchermes

Hi Underhill and all others who posted under this post, I agree that this is a community and open to any sort of discussion which is what makes it the lively forum that it is....I just think some of the people who post here on the European forum take themselves way too seriously which is obvious from some of the pompous responses people get to their innocent questions.

Ahh...Very interesting. Who Knew?

Since asking this question, hearing about the bugs, and getting these very detailed answers it reminds me of one of my favorite sayings:

"Be careful of what you ask for... you might get it..."


Thanks all...

Google cochineal and you will get a wealth of information. Yes insects that were/are from South America and Mexico etc. Interesting dear Underhill where your fun thread has brought up..we have all had a good giggle and are also more educated.

Danielle, I could not agree with you more.

Hi

Italian Grappa is clear coloured like for eg. Bacardi rum. The Spanish have a grappa which is yellow coloured - fuego, fuego 8)

Errr fuego, fuego? :-!

I like good grappa too. And it is especially good in a wonderful cup of Italian coffee.