The enjoyment of having a
pre-dinner drink to whet my appetite, or as Italians woul say - un aperitivoper stuzzicare l'appetito, is very much a tradition I experienced while holidaying in Italy. A
quintessential Italian concept in step with their dolce vita and spirit that enabled me to connect with family and
friends on my whirlwind visit. What grew in popularity in my parent’s
and many Italian households here in Australia however, and what I am more accustomed to, is
its sister drinks – digestivi
(digestives). An excuse to extend the evening that little bit longer, a
digestive is offered along with a few biscotti or walnuts placed on the table, perhaps a game of
cards all in the best tradition of Italian hospitality. Digestives as the
name suggests, are predominantly served to aid digestion and a lovely way of
concluding a meal, but also known to be offered as
a welcome drink served as small shots and sipped due to their high level
content of alcohol. Their flavours are complex …