“Cioccolato alla corte del Barolo Chinato” (Chocolate at the court of Barolo Chinato) starts tomorrow, Saturday 5th March, in Barolo and moves on to Cuneo and then Turin at the beginning of April. Its possible to taste over 20 different Barolo Chinato’s plus other great chocolate products from makers such as Baratti & Milano, F.lli Marolo and Venchi.
The recipe for Barolo Chinato was introduced at the end of the 19th century when a local pharmacist from Serralunga in Piedmont, named Cappellano, produced an elixir based on Barolo wine blended with an infusion of quinine, other spices and sweetened with a small dose of cane sugar. This made the consumption of this remedy a little more paletable in the fight against malaria. Soon, however, this drink made its appearence elsewhere, and was enjoyed in bars and other drinking establishments as a delicious digestive. Today Barolo Chinato’s finds itself in a unique position, as an aperitif as well as a digestive and the perfect match with chocolate.