A little bitter
The name is a diminutive of the Italian amaro, meaning "bitter", indicating the distinctive flavor lent by the mandorla amara--the bitter almond or the drupe kernel. However, the bitterness is not unpalatable, and their flavor is enhanced by sweeteners, and sometimes sweet almonds, in the final products. Therefore, the liqueur's name can be said to describe the taste as "a little bitter", and the plural, referring to the biscuits, suggests "little bitter things" or "things [that are] a little bitter".
Amare vs. amore
Conflation of the homophonous amare with amore ("love") is primarily responsible for the associations with romance. The similarity of amaretto and amoretto leads to the concept of "a little bitter love", referring to the humble but honest offering of Luini's lover. The amaretti created by the amoretti were small biscuits, like love both bitter and sweet, and presented wrapped together in pairs like a pair of sweethearts.
Name confusion
Amaretto should not be confused with amaro, a different Italian liqueur that is flavored with herbs. |
