Aperol Spritz

Toast Around the World:

Italian: Cin cin! (Chin chin) 

English Translation: Cheers!

 

The phrase Cin cin comes from Chinese: “qingqing” meaning “please please”, and is said before meals.

 

An Italian favorite, the Aperol Spritz is a popular summer Apéritif, which is an alcoholic drink that is served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Apéritifs are typically lightly alcoholic and more dry than sweet. Aperol was created in the early 1900s by brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri. After 7 years of experimentation, the original recipe for Aperol remains a secret to this day, but included oranges and rhubarb. The name is inspired by the French term for apéritif: apero. The official recipe for the Aperol Spritz was introduced in the 1950s as an aperitivo (meaning “to open”) and, in Italy, is still typically a light pre-dinner drink sipped with appetizers. The drink is celebrated every August 1st, on National Aperol Spritz day.