[1] Fernet-Branca was formulated in Milan, Italy, in 1845 by a self-taught herbalist, Bernardino Branca, who with his sons set up a business to manufacture and sell it.

[6] In the United States the drink became popular after the passage of prohibition laws in 1919, as it was sold in pharmacies as a medicinal product.

[7][2] By 1936 Branca had set up a branch office in Tribeca, New York, to satisfy American demand.

[13] According to the Branca website, the drink contains " ... rhubarb from China, gentian from France, galanga from India or from Sri Lanka, (and) chamomile from Europe [or] Argentina",[14] as well as linden (Tiliae flos), iris, saffron, zedoary, myrrh, and cinchona.

Fernet-Branca is often consumed neat as a digestif, or as a mixing component (usually supportive and not as the primary ingredient) in cocktails such as the Toronto.