Gentian liqueur
Gentian (also: Gentian spirit, Gentian schnapps, or Enzian liquor) is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage originating in mountainous areas, produced with roots of gentian flower.
Production
Despite the perception that the spirit is produced with gentian flowers (which are depicted in the labeling by many producers), gentian is actually produced using gentian root,[1] most commonly the yellow gentian, which is a larger variety. Less commonly, the roots from other flowers from the Gentiana genus are used, such as the purple gentian, brown gentian, or spotted gentian. The harvesting of gentian from the wild is strictly controlled; as a result, fields are planted with the specific purpose of being harvested. In both the EU and Switzerland, the alcoholic strength of Gentian must be at least 37.5 percent alcohol by volume.[1][2]
The oldest gentian distillery in Germany is the Enzianbrennerei Grassl in Berchtesgaden.[citation needed]
See also
- Angostura bitters – which contain gentian
References
- ^ a b Directive 110 of 15 January 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89, §18(a)
- ^ "Verordnung des EDI über alkoholische Getränke, Anhang 8: Mindestalkoholgehalt von Spirituosen" [Ordinance of the Federal Department of Home Affairs regarding alcoholic beverages, appendix 8: Minimum Alcohol Content of Spirits]. The Federal Government of the Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
