Digestivo

Following our previous article about Aperitivo, the Italian pre-dinner drink culture, this article continues with Digestivo, the after-dinner drink tradition to aid digestion.

What is Digestivo and Its Origins in Ancient Civilizations?

Digestivo comes from the word Digestif, meaning "to digest" in Italian. This culture has existed for a long time, believed to have emerged concurrently with the Aperitivo culture since ancient times. However, the difference is that Digestivo is a tradition of drinking after a meal to aid digestion, consumed only in small quantities, typically 1-2 glasses.

The history of Digestivo is said to have gained popularity since ancient civilizations in Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It is believed that people in those eras often mixed herbs with spirits to create drinks that aided digestion and relieved various ailments, as bitter tastes were believed to possess digestive properties.

Revival in the Middle Ages and Development in the Renaissance

During the European Middle Ages, a new form of Digestivo culture gained popularity in Italy, believed to have emerged even before the Aperitivo culture. Italians commonly drank bitter beverages, both coffee and alcoholic drinks, after dinner to aid digestion.

Later, in the Renaissance era, scientific and medical knowledge flourished greatly. Pharmacists began to become distillers, experimenting with new herbs, spices, and botanicals to create drinks that aided digestion. This led to a variety of alcoholic beverages, such as popular Italian drinks like Limoncello, Sambuca, Grappa, Amaro Averna, and Fernet-Branca.

Digestivo in Europe: A Cultural Mosaic

Beyond Italy, other European countries also have their own after-dinner drink cultures to aid digestion, for example:

• In France, Chartreuse and Armagnac are popular.
• In Spain, brandy is commonly consumed after dinner, called Chupito.
• In Greece, a drink called Ouzo with an anise flavor is popular after meals.

Spread and Evolution in the 19th and 21st Centuries

Throughout the 19th century, the popularity of Digestivo continued to grow, fueled by changing social norms that led to the widespread adoption of various drink formats. Bartenders began incorporating digestive drinks as ingredients in cocktails, such as Negroni and Sazeracs.

Currently, the Digestivo culture has spread worldwide, with each region developing its unique drinks by incorporating local herbs, spices, and fruits, such as herbal spirits infused with ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and cumin.