Bicerin () is a traditional hot
drink
A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies a ...
native to
Turin
Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...
, Italy, made of
espresso
Espresso (, ) is a coffee-brewing method of Italian origin, in which a small amount of nearly boiling water (about ) is forced under of pressure through finely-ground coffee beans. Espresso can be made with a wide variety of coffee beans and ...
,
drinking chocolate
Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a heated drink consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or Cocoa solids, cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and usually a sweetener like whipped cream or marshmallows. ...
, and
milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. Immune factors and immune ...
served layered in a small glass.
Origin
The word is and is the equivalent of
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
(diminutive of , 'glass').
This coffee beverage has existed since the 18th century and was praised by
Alexandre Dumas
Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...
in 1852. It is believed to be based on the 17th century drink ''bavarèisa'' ("Bavarian"): the key distinction is that in a bicerin the three components are carefully layered in the glass rather than being mixed together.
Caffè al Bicerin, which sits across from the
Santuario della Consolata
The Santuario della Madonna Consolata or, in its full name, the Church of the Virgin of the Consolation is a Marian sanctuary and minor basilica in central Turin, Piedmont, Italy. Colloquially, the sanctuary is known as ''La Consolata''.
It is loc ...
in
Turin
Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...
's piazza della Consolata, has been serving the drink since the 18th century. Local lore suggests that Bicerin was invented at Caffė al Bicerin or at Caffė Fiorio around 1704.
Liqueur
The Vicenzi Family Distillery in Turin also produces a chocolate hazelnut liqueur under this name.
See also
*
Espressino
Espressino is an Italian coffee drink originating in the southern region of Apulia. Espressino is usually served in a demitasse.
Composition
It is prepared with equal parts of espresso and milk, with some cocoa powder on the bottom of the cup and ...
and
marocchino
Marocchino (Caffè Marocchino) is a coffee drink created in Alessandria, Italy.
Preparation
Generally, the glass cup is first dusted with cocoa powder, then topped with milk froth and espresso, with a second dusting of cocoa on top.
Servi ...
, similar drinks
*
List of chocolate beverages
This is a list of notable chocolate drinks. Chocolate is a processed, typically sweetened food produced from the seed of the tropical ''Theobroma cacao'' tree. Its earliest documented use is by the Olmecs of south central Mexico around 1100 BC. ...
*
*
References
Bicerin at prodottitipici.it
External links
*
ttps://bicerin.it/ Caffè al Bicerin
Culture in Turin
Chocolate drinks
Cuisine of Piedmont
Italian drinks
Coffee drinks
Hot drinks
Coffee in Italy
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