Bitter of Lucca

Two historical bitters are part of the Lucca production: the China Massagli and the Biadina.

China Massagli takes its name from the homonymous pharmacy in Piazza San Michele in Lucca where the liquor was produced for the first time. This bitter has such therapeutic qualities as to be present in the Official Pharmacopoeia and is sold in pharmacies as a medicinal elixir. In fact, it seems that Dr. Pasquale Massagli, former owner of the pharmacy, cured a malaria epidemic that spread in the city in the mid-nineteenth century with his preparation.

The cinchona is also one of the ingredients of another important bitter produced in Lucca, called the Biadina. In Piazza San Michele there was a shop that sold  "biada” fodder  for the horse and “Biadina” for the rider  who came to the market in Lucca. Biadina is generally served in small glasses containing a few shelled pine nuts which refine its taste. Two historical bitters are part of the Lucca production: the China Massagli and the Biadina.