Picon Amer is a French aperitif flavoured with orange and Gentian root. It's classically consumed at the start of a meal to make you hungrier. It contains quinine, normally found in tonic water, and that was a great help in staving off malaria when this beverage was created in 1837. It's commonly drunk mixed into beer, wine or tonic water. The classic serve is with soda water, a splash of grenadine and lemon syrup.