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Homemade wormwood liqueur is a traditional Slovenian herbal drink that combines the bitter taste of wormwood with the pleasant sweetness of caramel. Due to the careful preparation, it contains very little thujone and is suitable as an aperitif or digestive. The recipe comes from old folk traditions, when wormwood was used to aid digestion and stimulate appetite.
Ingredients for homemade wormwood liqueur (about 1.5 liters)
- 4 sprigs of fresh wormwood (picked before flowering)
- 2.5 dl water
- 500 g sugar
- 1 liter of brandy or vodka (preferably homemade or high quality)
Method
1Pick the wormwood on a dry, sunny day in unpolluted areas. Chop the leaves and tips into small pieces.
2Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the chopped wormwood. Let it stand for 30 minutes, then strain through gauze and squeeze out all the liquid.
3Caramelize the sugar in a pot until golden brown, then add the wormwood tea. Cook for a few more minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved.
4Remove from heat and let it cool. Stir several times during cooling so that the caramel blends nicely with the tea.
5Pour the brandy or vodka into the cooled mixture, stir well and pour into clean bottles.
6Leave to stand for at least a week in a dark and cool place so the aromas can develop. After that, the homemade wormwood liqueur is ready to enjoy.
Tips for the perfect homemade wormwood liqueur
• For a stronger flavour, use more wormwood; for a milder one, use less.
• You can quickly dry the wormwood before use – this will give it an even more aromatic scent.
• The liqueur goes perfectly with a slice of lemon or over ice.
• For gifts, pour it into smaller bottles and decorate with a homemade label.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is wormwood liqueur bitter?
The bitterness comes from the natural components of wormwood and mild aromatic substances that stimulate digestion.
Is thujone in homemade wormwood liqueur dangerous?
When making homemade wormwood liqueur, the wormwood is first steeped in hot water, which extracts most of the thujone, and then diluted with alcohol. The final liqueur contains only very small amounts of thujone. However, it is recommended to drink it in moderation, as it still contains alcohol.
How can I use the leftover wormwood?
You can dry the leftovers and use them for teas or as an addition to other herbal liqueurs.
What to serve with wormwood liqueur?
It’s best served chilled as an aperitif or digestif. It pairs beautifully with nuts, dried fruit and homemade desserts.
