Alchermes – the perfect Italian liqueur for desserts

Alchermes is a liqueur that is usually drunk at the end of a meal as a digestif or used to moisten cakes and desserts. It is likened to an Elixir of Long Life and for this reason it is highly sought after even abroad.

How many degrees of alcohol does it have? The alcohol content is between 21-32%.

In addition, it is also a common ingredient in some hot drinks such as “mulled wine” or “Alchermes mulled wine,” which consists of hot wine flavored with spices and sugar and flavored with Alchermes. It can also be used with some cold drinks, such as in the preparation of “Negroni Sbagliato“.

1. The origins

It comes from the Arabic “al-qirmiz,” meaning “cochineal,” and is useful to indicate the crimson, red color. The use of this liqueur is of Arab origin and probably has arrived in Italian cuisine from Spain because of the dominations. 

From Italy it has arrived in France as well, thanks to the cooks who followed Catherine de’ Medici and was spread as “de’ Medici liqueur“.

2. What does alchermes taste like?

Alchermes is sugary, ‘one of the main characteristics of alchermes’, with an alcohol content of 23%, and is perfumed with an infusion of orange peel, cardamom and other spices from the original recipe.

3. Where to buy it? 

Make the perfect syrup for your desserts, perfect for sponge cake and trifle. The most convenient way to order alkermes is online, you can find it on Vico Food Box that delivers it directly from Italy to your home.

Let’s drink together!