When was the last time someone told you they love vermouth? I’ve just spent 4 days tasting vermouth and when I tell people this I get odd looks and grimaces. There’s a vague idea that it is old-fashioned, too sweet, not trendy, and besides, what exactly do you do with it or like about it? […]
absinthe
Generic absinthe makes the heart grow fonder
Neuchatel town loses its battle to claim absinthe PGI status ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Absinthe, Fée Verte and La Bleue can’t be claimed by the Neuchatel town of Val-de-Travers for PGI (protected geographical indication) status, a Swiss federal high court ruled 12 August. The court in St Gallen overturned an August 2012 decision by the Federal […]
Swiss continue to drink 1.6 litres of spirits a year
Figure well below that for UK, France GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Swiss continue to hold a steady line on their consumption of spirits, at about 1.6 litres per person a year for the past 10 years. Consumption has risen slightly, new figures from the Federal Bureau for Alcohol show, but in line with the rising […]
Absinthe, Fée verte and La Bleue: they’re officially Swiss now
BERN, SWITZERLAND – One of the most famous drinks of 19th century Europe finally has its place at home in Switzerland, with a decision by the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) Thursday 16 August to give IGP status to the names Absinthe, Fée verte and La Bleue. IGP (indications géographiques protégées), officially known as Protected […]
Swiss food treasures list runs from absinthe to zwieback
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Switzerland has just inventoried its food, or at least 404 products that it considers part of its cultural heritage. The joy of eating in Switzerland includes Geneva’s Christmas vegetable, cardon, dried meat from Valais and Rivella and zwieback. Rivella is a commercial brand, but nevertheless a Swiss culinary invention.