chinchona bitter

Reference

Central Italy (Clementi), French Alps (Bigallet), Turin / Italy (historic chinchona trade)

ABV16-30%. China amari typically 16-25%. Bonal Gentiane-Quina (fortified wine with chinchona) at 16%.

Sub-styles

China amaro (Italian chinchona bitter)Quina/quinquina (French chinchona aperitif)China-China (double-infused)

Tasting Notes

Chinchona bark (quinine bitterness), gentian, citrus peel. The quinine note is immediately recognizable — it's the 'tonic water' flavor. More medicinal and assertive than most other bittering agents. In fortified-wine form: the quinine sits alongside wine's fruit and acidity. In dasher-bottle form: concentrated, intense, medicinal. Finish is long and bitter — quinine lingers on the palate longer than most other bittering compounds.

Brand Guide

Fortified wine: Bonal Gentiane-Quina ($18-24). Liqueur: Tempus Fugit Kina L'Aéro d'Or ($28-35). Cocktail bitters: Various chinchona bitters producers ($10-18 per dasher bottle). The category is diffuse — chinchona is an ingredient that appears across multiple product types.

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The Story

The bark that changed the world — quinine from cinchona cured malaria and created the tonic water tradition. In amaro form, it's clean, bright bitterness at its purest.