A bittersweet fizzy drink of bitter oranges and aromatic herbs, launched by Simonds Farsons Cisk in 1952 as a Maltese alternative to imported colas. It is amber, bitter and unlike any other soft drink.
The formula is the producer’s trade secret, so any home version would be an invention wearing the name of a real product.
What goes into it
- carbonated water
- bitter orange extract
- wormwood and other aromatic herbs
- sugar
- caramel
How it is made
Bitter orange extract and a blend of aromatic herbs are made into a concentrate at the plant, blended with sugar syrup and caramel, diluted and carbonated under pressure before filling. The herb blend is what gives it the bitter edge, and it has never been published.
How long it takes: minutes on a production line
How it is eaten
Very cold from the bottle, with a slice of orange, or mixed with gin.
History
Bittersweet soft drink of bitter oranges and wormwood, launched by Simonds Farsons Cisk in 1952 as an alternative to imported colas.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kinnie?
Kinnie is a drink from Malta: bittersweet fizzy drink of bitter oranges, aromatic herbs. Bittersweet soft drink of bitter oranges and wormwood, launched by Simonds Farsons Cisk in 1952 as an alternative to imported colas.
How is Kinnie made?
Bitter orange extract and a blend of aromatic herbs are made into a concentrate at the plant, blended with sugar syrup and caramel, diluted and carbonated under pressure before filling. The herb blend is what gives it the bitter edge, and it has never been published. It takes minutes on a production line.
Can I make Kinnie at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. The formula is the producer’s trade secret, so any home version would be an invention wearing the name of a real product.
What goes into Kinnie?
Carbonated water, bitter orange extract, wormwood and other aromatic herbs, sugar, caramel.
How is Kinnie eaten?
Very cold from the bottle, with a slice of orange, or mixed with gin.
