Garibaldi and Livorno Style Coffee also called Ponce alla Livornese

Among the gastronomic specialities which help to make Livorno a unique city we absolutely must not forget the ponce, a drink

with coffee and liqueur in no way to be confused with the usual corretto.

Anyone who has tasted it can tell you that a comparison between ponce and punch is like that between a black panther and a

dobermann or between Cantonese rice and bucatini all’amatriciana.

We could of course dismiss the whole question saying that every language or (dialect as is the case with Livorno) has a word with a similar sound to indicate a vigorous alcoholic beverage.

But then, what can one say to those who swear that Garibaldi, when passing through the city (and there are many plaques on

the walls to attest that he passed through more than once) after knocking back this mixture exclaimed, ‘Great stuff! This warms

like my poncho’?