Aperitif

An aperitif is an alcoholic drink served before food to stimulate the palate.

The word Apéritif is French, (the origins of which can be traced back to the Latin ‘apertura’ – ‘to open’) although the tradition of serving a  drink before food originated in Italy.

An aperitif normally has a bitter element to it (wormwood, gentian, quinine, etc.) – this is what stimulates the palate and gets the gastric juices flowing, which in turn prepares our stomachs for food.