Angostura Bitters – The Taste of Trinidad (BlogHer Editor’s Pick)

Posted by on Jun 19, 2011 | 15 Comments | Print This Print This | | Email This Email This

When I was studying in the USA it seemed that every bar had Angostura bitters on its shelves. I realized that to Americans this tiny bottle was seen as a cocktail ingredient. How so very different from here in Trinidad where Angostura bitters is a staple in every kitchen, and is used to flavour everything from soups, to roasts, to ice cream! Growing up a few drops of Angostura in a glass of warm water was used to rectify everything from nausea to upset stomachs. Was there anything that this little brown bottle couldn’t do?

Today the ‘House of Angostura’ is a local culinary landmark and has branched out to make rum, sodas, soy sauce and more. At the National Museum you can see how the original bitters bottle and labels (and health claims) changed through the years, and the Angostura factory complex is open to tours. But what exactly is Angostura bitters?

According to the official Angostura bitters website:

“Distilled in Trinidad, using the secret recipe from 1824, and the same natural blend of herbs and spices, Angostura aromatic bitters is versatile beyond belief. It has retained its original formulation, one of the few remaining true trade secrets, an international brand that over the centuries has continued to flavour the world. Read the label, which is itself perfect.It will give you an insight to the product, with suggestions from savoury sauces to cakes,through crispy vegetables, meats and cocktails.”

Sounds good to me! So next time you are in a supermarket and you see this little bottle realize that there is much more to it than cocktails. Try some, you won’t regret it!
Random Factoid: Nelsen’s Hall on Washington Island, Wisconsin, USA is the largest purveyor of Angostura Bitters in the world! :eek:

This post was originally published November 19, 2006. It has been updated once since then.

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15 Responses to " Angostura Bitters – The Taste of Trinidad (BlogHer Editor’s Pick) "

  1. Retrofood says:
    November 20, 2006 at 10:56 am

    As a child I was endlessly fascinated by the bottle of Angostura bitters in our house. The label was interesting. The taste of a drop off a finger was interesting. But then I grew up and have never made a cocktail in my life and never had a good excuse to buy them otherwise. So, share some recipes.

  2. Retrofood says:
    November 20, 2006 at 6:56 am

    As a child I was endlessly fascinated by the bottle of Angostura bitters in our house. The label was interesting. The taste of a drop off a finger was interesting. But then I grew up and have never made a cocktail in my life and never had a good excuse to buy them otherwise. So, share some recipes.

  3. Sarina says:
    November 20, 2006 at 4:29 pm

    thanks retro! The label is quite hypnotic isn’t it? lol! I definitely will post some of the many recipes that we use Angostura bitters in :) And the upset tummy remedy suggestion is straight up too :D

  4. Sarina says:
    November 20, 2006 at 12:29 pm

    thanks retro! The label is quite hypnotic isn’t it? lol! I definitely will post some of the many recipes that we use Angostura bitters in :) And the upset tummy remedy suggestion is straight up too :D

  5. Marsha says:
    November 21, 2006 at 4:41 pm

    Nikki I don’t think people in the US realise it is even from Trinidad

  6. Marsha says:
    November 21, 2006 at 12:41 pm

    Nikki I don’t think people in the US realise it is even from Trinidad

  7. Sarina says:
    November 21, 2006 at 6:24 pm

    LOL! So true Marsha :) That’s why I put Taste of Trinidad in the title. It’s time we start representing for real!!! I am surprised how much goodwill and emails i still get from people who learnt about TnT from the World Cup!

  8. Sarina says:
    November 21, 2006 at 2:24 pm

    LOL! So true Marsha :) That’s why I put Taste of Trinidad in the title. It’s time we start representing for real!!! I am surprised how much goodwill and emails i still get from people who learnt about TnT from the World Cup!

  9. Brunsli says:
    July 17, 2007 at 4:52 am

    One of my all time “favoritest” tings ever.

    Use #453: Add a dash to homemade lime sorbet. Yumm!

    :)

  10. Brunsli says:
    July 17, 2007 at 12:52 am

    One of my all time “favoritest” tings ever.

    Use #453: Add a dash to homemade lime sorbet. Yumm!

    :)

  11. Sarina says:
    July 17, 2007 at 5:00 am

    Brunsli – ooo i gonna have to give that one a try! :D

  12. Sarina says:
    July 17, 2007 at 1:00 am

    Brunsli – ooo i gonna have to give that one a try! :D

  13. Rusty Nailer says:
    April 19, 2008 at 12:24 am

    Unfortunately most dont even know Trinidad is a country let alone the place of origin for this fine condiment.

  14. Rusty Nailer says:
    April 18, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    Unfortunately most dont even know Trinidad is a country let alone the place of origin for this fine condiment.

  15. Nausea Remedies says:
    September 12, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Thanks for information, I'll always keep updated here!

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