Bitters: the Revival of a Forgotten Flavor:

Of all the flavors to grace our palate, there is perhaps none as fascinating as that of bitterness. It is a flavor that is universally despised—used linguistically to characterize pain, harshness and things that are extremely difficult to bear. Yet, it is also a flavor used in cultures the world over to strengthen digestion, cleanse the body and build vitality—in short, considered an ingredient essential to good health. In fact, so many of the plants humans have traditionally used to tonify and heal the body are bitter tasting that we still today often rate the strength and usefulness of our medicine by how terribly bitter it tastes.

It is unfortunate, then, that our modern diet seems to be completely lacking in the wild bitter tasting plants our ancestors considered so fundamental to their health. Many of the diseases riddling our modern culture—from indigestion and gastric reflux to metabolic disorders ranging from elevated cholesterol to type 2 diabetes—seem to all point back to the deficiency of bitterness in our diets, and the lack of the protection and tone it imparts to our digestion and metabolic functions...
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10 Reasons to Use Bitters:

Including bitter foods in the diet isn't simply a matter of reviving tradition or taste. Bitter flavored foods also have a rich history in the healing arts. From the wine infused herbal concoctions used by Ancient Egyptians to the 16th century prescriptions of famous physician Paracelsus and beyond, elixirs brewed from carefully selected bitter herbs have been treasured as cure-all remedies across the ages. Studies have confirmed that getting an adequate amount bitter flavor is important for digestive balance and linked with many related health benefits. Eating bitters regularly has been shown to:

1. Curb sugar cravings
2. Soothe gas and bloating
3. Relieve occasional heartburn
4. Encourage digestive enzymes, bile & HCL production
5. Calm upset stomach and nausea
6. Increase absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K
7. Help maintain healthy blood sugar levels
8. Balance appetite
9. Ease constipation and regulate bowel movements
10. Support liver function and healthy skin
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Aromatic Bitters:

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons gentian root
2 tablespoons burdock root
1 orange zest
2 cinnamon sticks
15 whole allspice berries
10 whole cloves
3 whole star anise
1 ½ oz. freshly chopped ginger (about a 2” nub)
3 cups good vodka, grain alcohol or moonshine

Brown sugar simple syrup:
1/4 cup coconut sugar, brown sugar or other dark sugar
1/4 cup water

Instructions:

1. Put chopped gentian root and burdock root into a quart-sized mason jar.
2. Roughly chop ginger root.
3. Peel zest from a freshly washed orange and remove the pith.
4. Add ginger root, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cloves and star anise to the jar.
5. Add 3 cups alcohol, stir attach a lid and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight for 3-6 weeks. Shake once daily.

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup:

1. Combine brown sugar and water in small sauce pan. Bring to boil, stirring continuously until sugar is dissolved.

Mixing:

1. Strain the bitters into a bowl through a sieved topped with a muslin or cheese cloth.
2. Combine the strained bitters with the simple syrup (to taste) and stir well. Bottle and label.
3. Bottle, store in a cool, dry place, and enjoy.
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What is Cocktail Bitters and Why Should I use them?
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Cocktails with Bitters:
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Ways to use Bitters:
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