Angostura Bark

#### Angostura. **Angostura Bark **is obtained from a wild growing tree, **Galipea Cusparia**, in the mountains along the Orinoco river in Venezuela. The bark is used locally as a febrifuge, and some therapeutic effect is attributed to glycosides in the bark. It is claimed that an essential oil can be produced by steam distillation of the bark, and the yield is given at somewhere between 0.16% and 1.90% with little or no reference to actual or recent experiments. The author has never conducted such experiments, nor is he aware of having ever seen a true essential oil of Angustura **Bark. **However, the bark is often extracted with alcohol to yield a tincture which contains the bitter elements, glycosides, aromatic substances, coloring matter, etc. Tinctures or extracts are more truly representative of the total flavor of the bark than an essential oil would be, even if such an oil were available. **Angostura Tinctures **are used in the flavoring of alcoholic beverages where a bitter or "astringent" effect is called for. Many famous bitters owe their flavor partly to this ingredient, but the most famous of all "Angostura Bitters" is actually made without any angostura bark at all. This bitter-tincture is prepared from gentian root, bitter orange peel, cinnamon bark and probably other spicy botanicals, culinary herbs, etc. A few drops of this so-called "Angostura Bitter" in a glass of plain carbonated water ("Club Soda") produces a delicious thirst-quencher for hot and humid summer-days, and this simple drink has more flavor than a "Quinine Tonic". But it does not contain any Angostura bark at all. The author has used a 20% tincture of **Angostura Bark **(2 weeks maceration) for experiments, and these experiments confirm the fact that the true tincture has less flavor than the above so-called "**Angostura**** ****Bitters**". The author finds it inconceivable that **Angostura**** **products will ever find much application in perfumes or flavors.