Curaçao (liqueur)

Curaçao

A bottle of Blue Curaçao
Type	Liqueur
Manufacturer	(various)
Country of origin	Curaçao
Introduced	19th century
Alcohol by volume	15–40%
Color	colorless, but often artificially colored blue.
Flavor	laraha (bitter and sweet orange)

Curaçao (/ˈkjʊərəsaʊ/ KYUR-uh-sao) is a liqueur flavored with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, grown on the island of Curaçao.

A non-native plant similar to an orange, the laraha developed from the sweet Valencia orange transplanted by Spanish explorers in 1527. The nutrient-poor soil and arid climate of Curaçao proved unsuitable to Valencia cultivation, resulting in small, bitter fruit of the trees. Although the bitter flesh of the laraha is hardly edible, the peels are aromatic and flavorful, maintaining much of the essence of the Valencia orange.

To create the liqueur the laraha peel is dried, bringing out the sweetly fragranced oils. After soaking in a still with alcohol and water for several days, the peel is removed and other spices are added. The liqueur has an orange-like flavor with varying degrees of bitterness. It is naturally colorless, but is often given artificial coloring, most commonly blue or orange, which confers an exotic appearance to cocktails and other mixed drinks. Blue color is achieved by adding a food colorant, most often E133 Brilliant Blue.

Some other liqueurs are also sold as Curaçaos with different flavors added, such as coffee, chocolate, and rum and raisin.

• 
  Landhuis Chobolobo, where the liqueur was first made
• 
  A glass of Blue Curaçao liqueur

See also

• List of liqueurs
• Triple sec