Aperitivo

Aperitivo is an Italian after-work drinking and socializing tradition. Before dinner, the clinking of glasses and lively conversations begin, followed by an appetizer drink accompanied by light snacks. Italians started this tradition to relax and stimulate their appetite before the main meal. Today, Rimping Supermarket invites you to learn about this charming culture.

From Ancient Roman Roots to Modern Turin (Late 18th Century)

The word Aperitivo comes from the Latin word Aperire, meaning "to open," signifying the stimulation of appetite. The history of this culture has roots in ancient Rome, but the modern pre-dinner drink tradition known as Aperitivo only emerged in Italy during the late 18th century.

Historically, it is said that Roman aristocrats would drink wine mixed with honey, herbs, and spices (presumably Hippocras) as an appetizer before eating. However, in the modern era, the Aperitivo pre-dinner drink culture began in the city of Turin, Italy, during the popularity of Vermouth in 1786.

Vermouth, also known as Aromatized wine, is a fortified wine made by combining white wine with various plants, including wormwood and other aromatic herbs. Italians commonly drink it to stimulate their appetite before dinner.

The Golden Hour of Socializing: Italian Evenings

If you are familiar with Italian culture, you might know that Italians typically have lunch between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Therefore, dinner usually starts between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Consequently, the period after work, around 5:00 PM, before dinner, becomes a time for people to gather, converse, enjoy pre-dinner drinks, and snack on light bites such as pickled vegetables, olives, and ham to stimulate their appetite.

Over time, restaurants and bars in Italian cities like Milan, Turin, and Venice began serving appetizer drinks with small snacks to attract customers during the early evening, quickly making this culture popular among the upper classes who enjoyed socializing and relaxing after a day's work.

Campari: Fueling Popularity and Global Spread (1860 AD - Present)

Later, in 1860, the emergence of a drink called Campari further solidified this culture's popularity. Campari is a red herbal bitter made from a blend of over 60 different spices, herbs, roots, and fruit peels. Its distinctive red color comes from an insect called Cochineal. This drink became highly popular among artists, writers, and many celebrities, often mixed to make the Negroni cocktail to be enjoyed before dinner.

Throughout the 20th century, the Aperitivo culture continued to flourish in Italy, and in the 21st century, it spread across Europe to the United States. Many bars and restaurants adopted this Italian tradition. After work, people gather to enjoy appetizer drinks and snacks in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

In recent years, the Aperitivo culture has also started gaining popularity in Thailand. It's noticeable that many bars and restaurants have begun organizing these events, as Aperitivo has become a lifestyle where people gather with family, friends, colleagues, or others to converse and exchange ideas in a delightful way.