How bitter flavours can add a new dimension to your menus

Grapefruit, coffee, amaro, chocolate – top tips on adding bitter notes

An acquired taste for many, humans are programmed to be suspicious of bitter tastes as some toxic substances carry that flavour (such as poisonous plants). But we’ve come round to it…

It offers complexity to food and drinks, helping to counteract sweetness and balance richness. Many drinks have bitter notes such as beer and gin and tonic (quinine in tonic water is naturally very bitter) but we have grown to love them!

In food, green vegetables such as kale and sprouts, rocket and the distinctive radicchio all give a bitter bite.

Amaro liqueur

Made famous in the UK by the popular spritz, amaro liqueurs are Italian herbal liqueurs that tend to have a bittersweet flavour, such as Campari and Aperol. Serve simply with soda and ice, swap vermouth for amaro in a Negroni or add a dash to beer with a wedge of lime!

Coffee

Not just a drink, coffee adds something special to many desserts – think tiramisu, ice cream, and coffee and walnut cake. Experiment with different coffee strengths and brands to get the bitter balance just right. And don’t forget the customer favourite, Espresso Martini.

Chocolate

It’s seen as a sweet ingredient but high-percentage cocoa solids chocolate has a delicious bitterness. Look for chocolate with minimum 70% cocoa solids to get a rich chocolate taste. Add a few squares to savoury dishes too to balance richness and add just a little sweetness.

Grapefruit

Fantastic in cocktails, this citrus fruit gives a refreshing flavour with a bitter tang. Try a Paloma – tequila, lime juice, pink grapefruit juice, soda and agave syrup. Grapefruit can also be added to salads – an avocado salad would pair well with the bittersweet fruit.

Try these recipes for a delicious bitter bite:

Chilli Con Carne

Pomelo Progression Fizz

Vegan Tiramisu