Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-05 . Retrieved 2017-12-07. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( link) From the beginning Dr. Siegert was determined to wrest a cure from nature itself, and after four years of trial and error, researching and analysing the qualities of tropical herbs and plants, he finally arrived at a unique blend of herbs in 1824, which he called "Amargo Aromatico" or aromatic bitters. [...] Dr. Siegert hoped to use the bitters to bring relief to his patients, his small circle of family and friends, but these events were to prove otherwise. From these humble beginnings an international industry was soon to rise. According to Besson, Angostura Bitters first made its way around the world in little wooden casks that ship's captains bought directly from Seigert as medicine for their crew. After Seigert's death, political upheaval in Venezuela pushed Seigert's sons Don Carlos, Luis and Alfredo to relocate to Trinidad, just eight miles off the Venezuelan coast, in the mid-19th Century. The firm set up a distillery – The House of Angostura – in Port of Spain.

Besides being a Royal Warrant holder to the Queen of England for its Angostura® aromatic bitters, the company has successfully marketed its iconic bitters globally and has a geographic reach into 164 markets. By mid-1800s, Angostura Bitters had been making the world rounds for some decades, exported around the Caribbean, to the United States and to England where the military carried it across the expansive empire. By 1873, Angostura Bitters won a silver medal at the Vienna Exposition, and The House of Angostura had gained warrants to be exclusive purveyors of bitters to the royal houses of Prussia, Spain and England. Perhaps more remarkable than either the secret recipe or its quirky uses is the way that Angostura Bitters overtook the market. It's a use that hews closely to the original purpose for this secret recipe created by Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a German army surgeon and officer under Simon Bolivar. Seigert created Bitters while he was stationed in Venezuela in the town of Angostura (now Ciudad Bolivar) specifically as a stomach tonic for ailing soldiers. That was in 1824, and even after the family migrated to Trinidad in the mid-19th Century, his recipe was kept secret. Nearly 200 years later, it remains one of the world's longest held culinary mysteries.Forres Park Puncheon Rum: An over-proof rum originally developed for the exclusive use of the Fernandes family and their estate workers. Single Barrel Reserve: A blend of rums aged in single select bourbon oak casks for a minimum of five years. In Trinidadian families, like mine, Angostura Bitters serve as a flavour in everything from stews to desserts. "It's second nature to Trinis," said Gerard Besson, a Trinidadian historian and writer who curated The Museum at the House of Angostura. "Without even realising it, you grab the Bitters bottle and pass it over the pot."

Albert Y. Leung; Steven Foster (2003). Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics. Wiley-Interscience. p.35. Along with being a Royal Warrant holder to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for our ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, we have successfully marketed our iconic bitters globally and have a geographic reach into 170 markets. The recipe for Angostura® aromatic bitters has not been changed since the first bottle was introduced to the world in 1824. The House of Angostura ( English: / æ ŋ ɡ ə ˈ s tj ʊər ə/), also known as Angostura Limited, is a Trinidad and Tobago company famous for the production of Angostura bitters, invented by the company's founder. The company is also a distiller and is the major producer of rum in Trinidad and Tobago. The company also has been used as a vehicle for international expansion by its parent company, CL Financial. As a result of these acquisitions, the company owns distillers in the United States, Canada, The Bahamas and Suriname.However, Bitters, as we simply call it, is not just something to drink but is also a source of national pride in the tiny Caribbean twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago where it is now made. Visitors would be hard pressed not to feel its presence everywhere from hotel bars to restaurants to country "rum shops" reminiscent of the watering holes of old. Those exploring the nation's diverse cuisine will soon learn that Bitters provide a unique taste that marks everything from baked goods to traditional dishes and haute cuisine. So popular are Bitters in Trinidadian cooking that The House of Angostura in the capital city of Port of Spain hosted a 2018 competition between professional chefs and home cooks featuring recipes using the aromatic Bitters. Perhaps nowhere is the legend and lore of Angostura Bitters more robust than on the island where it is produced. Nearly every Trinidadian I know has a theory not only about what's in the Bitters but how the recipe has managed to remain a mystery all of these years. Only a few facts are known for sure: that Seigert' original recipe, a suspension of herbs, barks and spices, remains unchanged; and that the alcohol base is close to 50%.