Fernet-Branca () is an Italian brand of

fernet Fernet () is an Italian type of amaro, a bitter, aromatic spirit. Fernet is made from a number of herbs and spices which vary according to the brand, but usually include myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and especially saffron, with a b ...

, a style of '' amaro'' or bitters. It was formulated in

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

in 1845, and is manufactured there by Fratelli Branca Distillerie.

History

Fernet-Branca was formulated in

in 1845 by a self-taught herbalist, Bernardino Branca, who with his sons set up a business to manufacture and sell it. It was marketed as a

pick-me-up In herbal medicine, an herbal tonic (also tonic herbs, tonic herbalism) is used to help restore, tone and invigorate systems in the body or to promote general health and well-being. An herbal tonic is a solution or other preparation made from a sp ...

and as a cure for

worms Worms may refer to: *Worm, an invertebrate animal with a tube-like body and no limbs Places *Worms, Germany, a city **Worms (electoral district) *Worms, Nebraska, U.S. *Worms im Veltlintal, the German name for Bormio, Italy Arts and entertainme ...

, for fever, for

cholera Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...

and for

menstrual pain Dysmenorrhea, also known as period pain, painful periods or menstrual cramps, is pain during menstruation. Its usual onset occurs around the time that menstruation begins. Symptoms typically last less than three days. The pain is usually in the ...

. From 1886 the company published annual calendars with works by well-known artists. The eagle-and-globe logo was designed in 1893 by

Leopoldo Metlicovitz Leopoldo Metlicovitz (Trieste, 17 July 1868 - Ponte Lambro, 19 October 1944) was an Italians, Italian Painting, painter, illustrator and Poster artist, poster designer. Together with Leonetto Cappiello, Adolfo Hohenstein, Adolf Hohenstein, Giov ...

. The company began exporting to Argentina in 1907, and in 1925 established a distillery in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

. In the United States the drink became popular after the passage of prohibition laws in 1919, as it was sold in pharmacies as a medicinal product. By 1936 Branca had set up a branch office in

Tribeca, New York Tribeca (), originally written as TriBeCa, is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Its name is a syllabic abbreviation of "Triangle Below Canal Street". The "triangle" (more accurately a quadrilateral) is bounded by Canal Stree ...

to satisfy American demand. Production in the United States peaked at 60,000 cases in 1960.

Formulation

Fernet-Branca is produced according to the original recipe. It is made from 27 herbs and other ingredients; its complete formula is a

trade secret Trade secrets are a type of intellectual property that includes formulas, practices, processes, designs, instruments, patterns, or compilations of information that have inherent economic value because they are not generally known or readily asc ...

. Sources have reported that its recipe includes chinese rhubarb, aloe ferox (bitter aloe),

cinchona ''Cinchona'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae containing at least 23 species of trees and shrubs. All are native to the Tropical Andes, tropical Andean forests of western South America. A few species are ...

chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec civ ...

quinine Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria and babesiosis. This includes the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' that is resistant to chloroquine when artesunate is not available. While sometimes used for nocturnal leg cr ...

and angelica. The Branca Distillery states on its web site that the drink contains "Rhubarb from China, Gentian from France,

Galanga Galangal () is a common name for several tropical rhizomatous spices. Differentiation The word ''galangal'', or its variant ''galanga'' or archaically ''galingale'', can refer in common usage to the aromatic rhizome of any of four plant spec ...

from India or from Sri Lanka, (and) Chamomile from Europe rArgentina", as well as linden (tiliae flos), iris,

saffron Saffron () is a spice derived from the flower of ''Crocus sativus'', commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent i ...

zedoary ''Curcuma zedoaria'' (zedoary, white turmeric, or temu putih) is a perennial herb and member of the genus ''Curcuma'', family Zingiberaceae. The plant is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia but is now naturalized in other places including th ...

myrrh Myrrh (; from Semitic, but see '' § Etymology'') is a gum-resin extracted from a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus ''Commiphora''. Myrrh resin has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Myrrh mi ...

and cinchona. Fernet-Branca has a higher alcohol content, at 39%, and lower sugar content than most other amari. It is aged in oak barrels for a year. The manufacturer also offers a sweeter, mint-flavored liqueur, Branca Menta.

Consumption

Fernet-Branca, Dei Fili Branca, Milano (front) - 8201067460

Fernet-Branca is often consumed neat as a digestif, typically served in a cordial glass, or as a mixing component (usually supportive and not as the primary ingredient) in cocktails such as the "

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

", the " Fanciulli" and the " Hanky Panky". In Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay, ''

fernet con coca ''Fernet con coca'' ( or , "Fernet and Coke"), also known as fernando, its diminutive fernandito (), or several other nicknames, is a long drink of Argentine origin consisting of the Italian '' amaro'' liqueur fernet and cola, served over ice ...

''—Fernet-Branca with Coca-Cola—is a popular drink. The cocktail is popular in

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

, with some statistics reporting that the country consumes more than 75% of all fernet produced globally. In the US it has been referred to as "The Bartender’s Handshake". Some 35% of all Fernet-Branca imported into the US is reportedly consumed in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

Fernet-Branca centenario argentino 1810-1910

Notes & references

External links

* {{Alcoholic drinks Bitters Herbal liqueurs Italian liqueurs Patent medicines Products introduced in 1845 Italian brands