What New Orleans bitters brand was created by apothecary Antoine Amédée Peychaud?

Peychaud’s bitters is the New Orleans bitters brand created by apothecary Antoine Amédée Peychaud.

Peychaud, a Haitian-born pharmacist, operated an apothecary in New Orleans during the nineteenth century. He became known for a bitters formula flavored with gentian and other botanicals. The product eventually became especially important in the Sazerac, one of the city’s defining cocktails.

Peychaud’s bitters is brighter and more fruit-forward in character than Angostura bitters, with a distinctive red color. Modern recipes use it in small quantities because bitters are concentrated flavorings rather than drinks consumed by the glass.

The brand’s history illustrates how New Orleans cuisine and beverage culture combine French, Caribbean, and American influences. Although bitters are not a cooking ingredient in the narrow sense, they are part of the same regional food tradition and are particularly associated with the city’s historic bar culture.