Roman and Italian drinks
As well as being famous for the variety and quality of its food, Italy also has a wide selection of alcoholic drinks. Aside from wine, beer and the usual spirits, you're likely to come across:
Grappa
Made from pomace (the grape skins, stalks and seeds left over from the wine-making process), Grappa is one of the spirits that you're likely to be offered after a meal, with an espresso or sometimes served straight from the freezer.
Fernet-Branca
The alcoholic drink equivalent of marmite, people either love or hate Fernet-Branca. Known for its digestive properties and very bitter taste, Fernet is a combination of numerous spices, herbs and vegetables, rumoured to include rhubarb and gum myrrh. It's also available in mint flavour as Brancamenta.
Limoncello
A sickly sweet concoction of fermented lemon rinds and sugar. Bottles of Limoncello are available from souvenir shops in a bewildering variety of novelty shapes.
