Curaçao (liqueur)

Curaçao

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

Curaçao ( /ˈkjʊərəsaʊ/) is a liqueur flavoured 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. The nutrient-poor soil and arid climate of Curaçao proved unsuitable to Valencia cultivation, resulting in small bitter fruit on the trees. But the aromatic peel maintained much of the essence of the Valencia varietal, and the trees were eventually bred into the current laraha cultivar, whose fruits remain inedibly bitter.

The drink was first developed and marketed by the Senior family (an old Caribbean family of Spanish Jewish descent) in the 19th century.^[1] 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 flavour with varying degrees of bitterness. It is naturally colourless, but is often given artificial colouring, most commonly blue or orange, which confers an exotic appearance to cocktails and other mixed drinks. High-end Curaçaos like Grand Marnier are based on cognac (or other aged spirits), giving the Curaçao a natural rust-orange color.

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

See also

• List of liqueurs
• Triple sec

References

1. ^ Benjamin, Alan Fredric (2002). Jews of the Dutch Caribbean. Routledge. ISBN 0415274397. 

External links

• Curacao of Curacao Liquer - Website of the original Curacao Liquer