What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (2024)

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Find out why bitter foods are important for your gut, and improve your digestion by making this dandelion, orange, ginger, and cacao digestive bitters recipe with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (1)
Jump To
  • What Are The Benefits Of Digestive Bitters?
  • What Are Bitter Foods?
  • What Are Digestive Enzymes And How Do They Affect Digestion?
  • What Role Does Bile Play In Digestion?
  • Why Do You Need Stomach Acid?
  • What Are Bitter Herbs?
  • Why You'll Love This Dandelion Orange Ginger And Cacao Bitters Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • Let's Make It
  • Top Tips + FAQs
  • More Recipes You Might Like
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

If there is one thing we could all use more of in our lives, it is bitter food. Believe me, I had the same reaction you're having if you're thinking, NO WAY. But it turns out, yes, if you want to improve digestion, one of the best things you can do is eat bitter foods. And if bitter foods are not appealing to you (yet), digestive bitters can help.

In this post, I want to share the benefits of bitters, how bitters can improve digestion, why bitter food is good for you, how bile plays a role in digestion, why digestive enzymes are important for digesting food, and why contrary to popular belief, stomach acid is a good thing and so much more!

So let's dive right in and start with the most important part.

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What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (3)

What Are The Benefits Of Digestive Bitters?

Bitters have long been used for improving digestion. They are helpful for relieving heartburn and assisting the liver in releasing digestive enzymes, which are key to breaking down food. In addition, bitters stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, which is needed for protein breakdown in the stomach and also helps your body absorb vitamins. In addition, bitters are great for easing bloating, gas, and constipation, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, and regulating the digestive tract.

What Are Bitter Foods?

Bitter food is all around us and including more of it in our diets is a sure way to improve digestion. And of course, we're primed biologically to only crave sweet and salty food, but once you start including more bitter foods in your life, you'll start seeing the benefits they have on your body and overall well-being.

These are the most common bitter foods you can find in your local grocery store:

Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Kale
Dandelion leaves
Dark chocolate
Watercress
Spinach
Sesame seeds and tahini
Cauliflower
Coriander
Green tea
Coffee
Bitter melon
Arugula
Radishes
Citrus peels
Cinnamon
Endives
Ginger
Artichoke
Broccoli rabe
Cranberries

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What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (5)

What Are Digestive Enzymes And How Do They Affect Digestion?

Digestive enzymes are proteins produced by the stomach, small intestine, and most importantly pancreas. Digestive enzymes are necessary for the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The moment we smell food, our bodies start to produce saliva and digestive enzymes, preparing to receive food. There are 3 main digestive enzymes: amylasefor breaking down carbohydrates, lipasefor breaking down fats proteasefor breaking down protein. There is also sucrase for breaking down sucrose and lactase for breaking down lactase. The latter two are often ones certain people don't produce enough of, resulting in intolerance, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, etc.

What Role Does Bile Play In Digestion?

The role of bile is often less talked about but nonetheless, the gall bladder releases this concentrated fluid which is essential for breaking down fats and fat-soluble vitamins and converting them to fatty acids that the body can then absorb.

Why Do You Need Stomach Acid?

Without enough stomach acid, (aka HCL or Hydrochloricacid) protein, minerals, and vitamins are not properly broken down and end up going through the digestive tract undigested. This can cause a whole host of complications, including nutrient deficiency, and leaky gut (intestinal permeability).

Having enough stomach acid helps kill and neutralize pathogens, bacteria, and yeast. Having these get past the stomach can dysregulate the delicate microbiome balance in the body, resulting in too many bad bacteria, which can result in intestinal permeability, SIBO, and in some cases autoimmune disorders.

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What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (7)

What Are Bitter Herbs?

Bitter herbs range from very common household herbs to more obscure ones you may not have heard about. But here is a list of the ones most frequently used for digestion and liver support.

Angelica
Chamomile
Centaury
Wormwood
Gentian
Dandelion root
Yarrow
Burdock root
Blue vervain
Cacao
Mugwort
Milk thistle
Cinnamon
Chickory
Hops
Goldenseal
Peppermint

Now that you know why bitters play such an important role in digestion, let's get to making a simple orange ginger and cacao digestive bitters recipe with ingredients you likely have in your pantry.

Why You'll Love This Dandelion Orange Ginger And Cacao Bitters Recipe

  • It's great for your digestive system
  • It regulates digestive motility
  • Can improve bloating and gas
  • Helps to soothe an upset stomach
  • Increases stomach acid
  • It helps to regulate blood sugar levels

Ingredients Needed

  • Dandelion root
  • Ginger
  • Cinnamon
  • Chamomile
  • Cacao nibs
  • Orange peels
  • Cloves
  • Vodka
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Let's Make It

Step 1. Add all the herbs into a 12-ounce mason jar and cover them with vodka until all ingredients are submerged.

Step 2. Label your jar and store the tincture in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks, shaking it daily.

Step 3. Strain the herbs and pour the tincture into dropper bottles.

* The tincture will last for years but if you're using it every day, I recommend starting a new tincture soon after you bottle it so you don't run out.

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What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (16)

Top Tips + FAQs

Why Do Digestive Bitters Taste So Bitters?

You probably already know the answer. All the herbs in this digestive bitters tincture are bitter in nature. But there is still sweetness that comes through from cinnamon as well as the fruitiness from the citrus. The combination is well-rounded enough so it's not excessive. It certainly is nothing like wormwood, which is very, very difficult to tolerate. If you're curious about it, try wormwood tea and please let me know how it goes.

Why Do You Need Alcohol For Digestive Bitters?

Alcohol is a solvent that helps to extract all the beneficial compounds from any herb that is stepped in it. Alcohol is also a very good preservative, therefore tinctures can be stored for years.

What Alcohol Should You Use For Tinctures?

Vodka is generally the most neutral alcohol for making tinctures and is preferred over other solvents.

How Long Do You Let The Digestive Bitters Sit?

Some sources have said that as little as 2 weeks can still create a beneficial tincture, but I like tinctures to sit for at least 4-6 weeks. The longer they sit, the stronger in flavor they will be.

How Much Digestive Bitters Should You Take?

The typical dose for digestive bitters is ¼ teaspoon to ½ tsp. I typically use a dropper full as a good measure.

When Is The Best Time To Use Digestive Bitters?

In order to stimulate digestion, it's recommended that digestive bitters be taken about 10-20 minutes before meals. But you can also take them right before if that's when you remember, or even after meals to help with any digestive discomfort.

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What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (18)

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📖 Recipe

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Dandelion Orange Ginger And Cacao Bitters Recipe

Yield: 50

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Improve your digestion simply by making this quick digestive orange ginger and cacao bitters recipe with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon dandelion root
  • 1" knob ginger sliced
  • peel from roughly one orange
  • 3 cloves
  • 3-4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon chamomile flowers
  • 1 tbps cacao nibs
  • enough vodka to fill the jar

Instructions

1. Add all the herbs into a 12-ounce mason jar and cover them with vodka until all ingredients are submerged.

2. Label your jar and store the tincture in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks, shaking it daily.

3. Strain the herbs and pour the tincture into dropper bottles.

Notes

1. The tincture will last for years but if you’re using it every day, I recommend starting a new tincture soon after you bottle it so you don’t run out.

2. Store the tincture in a cool, dry place.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 50Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 4Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

What Are Digestive Bitters, How To Use Them Plus A Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you use digestive bitters? ›

How to take digestive bitters: “To take bitters, drop one serving (usually around ¼ tsp) onto your tongue and hold them in your mouth for about 10-15 seconds, until you start to salivate. You'll want the bitter tincture to fall all across your tongue, as we have bitter receptors on our entire tongue,” says Zellner.

What happens to your stomach when you eat bitters before a meal? ›

Bitters can make your stomach release more gastric juice. This can help with heartburn, cramping, and indigestion.

What are examples of digestive bitters? ›

What are digestive bitters?
  • Artichoke leaf.
  • Bitter melon.
  • Burdock root.
  • Dandelion.
  • Gentian root.
  • Licorice root.
  • Wormwood.
Mar 6, 2022

What does bitters do to your body? ›

The reason why people take digestive bitters is to aid their digestion and help mitigate symptoms of indigestion. A 2021 review of studies in Nutrients found that bitters can help with regulating hormones related to gut health and can increase gut motility (i.e., how foods move through our digestive system).

Do you put digestive bitters in water? ›

The key to unlocking the wisdom of bitters is tasting the bitter flavor. Unfortunately, when you add water it does dilute the bitter flavor as well. For this reason, our Digestive Bitters are best taken directly on the tongue.

How long before a meal should you take digestive bitters? ›

Digestive bitters are prescribed to take 10-15 minutes before eating a meal. However, it can be easy to forget, so taking them with or just after eating can still be helpful.

Is apple cider vinegar a digestive bitter? ›

Emerging evidence suggests that bitter foods, such as apple cider vinegar, ginger and leafy greens, can be seriously good for our gut health. And most of us are a few centuries late to the game.

What happens if you drink straight bitters? ›

A few dashes won't even get you buzzed, but as many an enterprising alcoholic can tell you, a standard bottle of bitters is the same as nearly 3 shots of whiskey. That dasher cap comes off pretty easily! Just because you're "not supposed to" drink bitters straight doesn't mean you can't.

Can I take digestive bitters on an empty stomach? ›

Since bitters help prepare the digestive tract to digest food, they are best taken about 15 minutes before a meal, although taking them with or just after eating can still be helpful if you forget to take them ahead of time.

What is bitter herbs in the Bible? ›

Types of maror. The Mishnah specifies five types of bitter herbs eaten on the night of Passover: ḥazzeret (lettuce), ʿuleshīn (endive/chicory), temakha, ḥarḥavina (possibly melilot, or Eryngium creticum), and maror (likely Sonchus oleraceus, sowthistle).

What are 5 bitter foods? ›

Try our top bitter food picks:
  • broccoli.
  • brussels sprouts.
  • cabbage.
  • cauliflower.
  • coriander.
  • dandelion tea.
  • dark chocolate.
  • kale.

Which fruit is bitter? ›

1. Bitter gourd. Bitter melon, or bitter melon, is a green melon, similar in shape to a cucumber but with rough skin and a very bitter taste.

Do bitters clean you out? ›

Bitters give the liver a boost by aiding in the elimination of toxins and detoxification, coordinating the metabolism of sugar and fats, and helping release gallbladder-supporting hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK).

Can bitters help lose weight? ›

Bitters rev up your fat-burning metabolism and your body processes more fat – which means storing less of it. Studies show healthy bile also reduces insulin resistance, which is essential for weight loss and healthy blood sugar levels.

Does bitters affect liver? ›

Among the many actions of bitters, they: Stimulate appetite. Stimulate release of digestive juices from the pancreas, duodenum, and liver. Aid the liver in detoxification work and increase the flow of bile.

What is the best way to drink bitters? ›

Bitters can be used to bring a little life to any drink. Try a few dashes of Cardamom bitters in your coffee, especially if it's iced, or in tea. Perk up your ginger ale with a few dashes of Aromatic bitters. Even fruit juice and/or soda water can be livened up with bitters.

How many drops of digestive bitters should I take? ›

Adding bitters to your day is easy – simply take 1-1.5 ml (30-45 drops) 3 times daily, in a little water, on an empty stomach. Take 15-60 minutes before meals, after a heavy meal, or when discomfort occurs.

Can you drink bitters straight up? ›

Cocktail bitters are more concentrated than digestive bitters and have extraordinarily strong flavors. Subsequently, bartenders add cocktail bitters in small amounts to their drink recipes and never serve them to customers straight.

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