Kinnie Explained: Why Locals Love It and the Best Ways to Drink It
Ask for a soft drink in Malta and one name appears almost immediately: Kinnie. Created in 1952, this amber-coloured Maltese drink combines zesty orange flavours with aromatic botanicals, producing a taste that is simultaneously citrusy, herbal, sweet and pleasantly bitter. It does not resemble an ordinary orange soda, and that difference is precisely what gives it such a strong identity.
For many Maltese people, Kinnie is more than refreshment. It is connected with family lunches, summer afternoons, village celebrations, seaside cafés and the familiar sound of bottles opening around a shared table. Its flavour is distinctive enough to feel local, yet versatile enough to accompany food or stand alone, especially beside the sea during Malta’s warmer months. Visitors sometimes need a few sips to understand it, because the bitterness arrives after the initial orange sweetness. Locals often describe that contrast as the drink’s greatest appeal: it is refreshing without tasting childish or excessively sugary.
The simplest way to enjoy Kinnie is also the classic one. Serve it very cold, pour it over plenty of ice and add a fresh orange slice. The ice softens the intensity slightly, while the orange reinforces its citrus aroma. A tall glass works well on a hot afternoon, although many people prefer drinking it directly from a chilled glass bottle or can. Avoid letting it become warm, because its bitterness and sweetness feel less balanced as the temperature rises.
Kinnie also pairs naturally with Maltese food. Try it with salty pastizzi, a ftira filled with tuna and vegetables, grilled fish, burgers or a plate of shared snacks. Its carbonation cuts through rich or oily flavours, while its herbal bitterness provides a useful counterpoint to savoury dishes. It can therefore play the same role as an aperitif, but the original version remains a non-alcoholic soft drink.
For a brighter serve, add a squeeze of lemon or a strip of orange peel. Fresh mint can introduce a cooler aroma without overwhelming the drink. Kinnie is also used as a mixer: its bittersweet character works particularly well with gin, vodka, whisky or dark rum. Keep the proportions simple so the signature flavour remains recognisable, and always offer an alcohol-free version for anyone who prefers it.
The current range gives drinkers several options. Kinnie Original delivers the familiar full flavour, Kinnie Zero offers a sugar-free interpretation, and Kinnie Zest emphasises orange character with no added sugar. The brand has also developed ready-to-drink aperitivo products containing alcohol, so checking the label is important when choosing between versions.
To appreciate Kinnie properly, do not expect it to imitate another drink. Taste it slowly, notice how the orange changes into a dry herbal finish, and try it with a local snack. Its appeal lies in that unexpected combination and in the everyday Maltese moments surrounding it.
At 1926 Les Bains, you are perfectly placed to discover Malta’s unmistakable flavours, from an ice-cold Kinnie by the sea to relaxed evenings in Sliema. For reservations and enquiries, contact reservations@1926collection.com or call +356 2133 3570.
