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About Bitters
About Bitters
A Bitter is a preparation of herbs and citrus which is dissolved in glycerine or alcohol with a bitter or bittersweet flavor. There are various brands of bitters, once numerous, were manufacturers as medicines, often serving as digestifs. Other varieties are principally used as apéritifs or as flavorings in cocktails. Bitters commonly contain an alcoholic strength of up to 45%, they are normally consumed in very small amounts and often with other Flavours, added as a flavoring similar to vanilla flavoring which is dissolved in alcohol.
Common ingredients in bitters include: angostura bark, cascarilla, quassia, gentian, orange peel, and quinine. The flavors Angostura Bitters and Peychaud Bitters derives from gentian, a bitter herb. Bitters are prepared by infusion or distillation, utilizing aromatic herbs, bark, roots, and/or fruit for their flavor and medicinal properties.
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