Picon

Picon is a bittersweet orange-flavored French liqueur, officially classified as a bitter, which is commonly paired with beer. It was created in 1932 by Gaétan Picon, who was an apprentice at a distillery before he was stationed in Algeria.

Like many other French soldiers, he was exposed to malaria, and soon after he invented Picon—a combination of neutral alcohol, caramel, and various herbs and spices such as orange zest, gentian root, and cinchona bark (known to yield quinine which was an effective treatment against malaria).

The drink was first produced in Algeria, but after he improved his formula and won a bronze medal at the London World's Fair in 1862, Picon relocated his factory to Marseille, where the drink is still produced. Picon is often mixed with white wine, while the combination of beer and Picon is a favorite in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

Since 1995, Picon is produced as the original Picon bière—meant to be combined with beer—and as Picon club—intended to be mixed with white wine. Picon is mostly enjoyed in northern and eastern France, and apart from classic combinations, it is also commonly used as a cocktail ingredient.