Algarve’s Arbutus spirit

Thursday, 12 August 2010 00:00

With alcohol levels of 36 percent, the new “spiritual” drink is nicknamed by its creator as the new “summer nectar” due to its composition of 70 % arbutus spirit and 30 % honey. Arbutus spirit, also known locally as Medronho, is a traditional drink in the Algarve produced with the arbutus fruit. According to the producer, the biggest challenge of the testing stage was to obtain the crystal look of the drink, due to the characteristics of the ingredients being used. The drink is produced in a small distillery located in Aldeia do Talurdo, near Silves, where Luís Sequeira also produces and sells chocolate bonbons filled with honey and arbutus spirit. Aguardente is the drink - much like vodka, and Medronho (aka strawberry-tree) is the fruit that gives it a special flavor. Similar to the strawberry, the Medronho fruit has its seeds on the outside and a soft flesh on the inside, with a small delicate pit in the center. The fruit is small and round, with an orange and deep read color, biting into the fruit one feels its graininess, but when bitten through it’s soft and delicate center collapses with a mellow meaty sweetness. When ideally ripened, the bumpy exterior turns almost black in color, and this is when these little strawberry balls are ideal for harvesting and making Aguardente de Medornho. Aguardente can be made from other fruits such as figs but the most revered is still Medronho.