Falernum has been around since ancient times, and its popularity hasn’t faded over time.
It was first used by sailors to help them feel more relaxed on long sea voyages, but it eventually became much more than that.
Today, falernum is known as one of the best cocktails to kick off any party (even if it’s just with yourself).
What Is Falernum?
Falernum is an alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane juice mixed with spices.
The word “falernum” comes from the Portuguese language, which means “little horse” or “horse apple.”
These words were given to the drink because of the appearance of its bottles — they resemble those of horses!
The history of falernum dates back thousands of years, when this type of liquor was produced in Africa, Asia, Europe, and America.
Today, different countries produce their own versions of falernum, using different types of herbs and spices.
Here are some examples of popular varieties:
- Angostura bitters — A sweet-and-spicy cocktail ingredient originally created in 1824 by Dr. James Barton Angostura, who wanted to create a spicy and medicinal drink for his patients.
- Cachaça — Brazilian rum flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla beans.
- Ginger ale — An American concoction inspired by English ginger beer, also known as gingered ale or ginger pop.
- Herbs de Provence — French herbal blend containing basil, fennel seeds, lavender flowers, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and winter savory.
- Mojito — Cuban cocktail made with lime juice, white rum, sugar cane syrup, mint leaves, and crushed ice.
- Traditionally served ice cold.
- Sambuca — Italian liquor composed mostly of vodka, amaretto, Marsala wine, and almond extract.
- Tequila — Mexican spirit made from fermented blue agave plants.
What Are The Ingredients In Falernum?
The main ingredient in most falernums is rum.
Most recipes call for equal parts sugar and water, but there are some variations out there.
The amount of each depends on how sweet or sour you want the finished product to taste.
Other ingredients include lime juice, ginger syrup, cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon sticks, black pepper, nutmeg, vanilla extract, anise seeds, and honey.
You can also add mint leaves, orange peel, or lemon zest to give the drink a different flavor.
Some people use additional flavors like coffee beans, tea leaves, cucumber slices, or even pineapple chunks.
If you have those ingredients handy, go ahead and toss them into your mixture!
You might also notice that many falernum recipes call for cinnamon sticks instead of ground cinnamon.
That’s because cinnamon sticks contain a lot more spice than ground cinnamon does — so they work better when preparing this cocktail.
How Do You Make Falernum?
Falernum is an alcoholic drink based on rum, sugarcane syrup, lime juice, and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
The drink started out in Brazil where they would add cloves or mace into their version of falernum, but now there are different versions that include all sorts of flavors like vanilla, passion fruit, coffee, and even chocolate!
The name “falernum” comes from the Portuguese word for “seafood sauce,” which is what this cocktail tastes like when mixed together.
However, the real flavor behind falernum comes from the sugarcane syrup added to the mix.
Sugar cane is actually the most common ingredient in falernum these days, but some recipes call for other things including honey or orange blossom water.
To get the right balance between sweet and savory, many people will use a ratio of 1 part sugarcane syrup to 2 parts fresh lime juice.
But how exactly does one go about creating the mixture?
Let us show you the process below.
- First, pour two cups of freshly squeezed lime juice into a bowl and then add 3 tablespoons of sugarcane syrup.
- Next, combine both liquids using a whisk until they become completely smooth.
- Keep adding in additional sugarcane syrups as needed until you have enough liquid to cover the bottom of the bowl.
- Then, place the bowl in the fridge overnight so the flavors can develop.
- Once everything has chilled down, strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer to remove any leftover bits of pulp.
- Finally, stir in whatever flavoring you want before serving! You can also top each glass with a slice of lime before pouring in the falernum.
What Is The History Of Falernum?
The word “falernum” comes from the Latin word “felinae,” which means “of women.”
The original falernum recipe was created during the 17th century when many people believed that it would enhance sexual desire among men.
In fact, the drink contains several aphrodisiac elements, including sugarcane, nutmeg, and rum.
However, these days it’s mostly associated with parties and celebrations because it makes almost anyone happy!
What Are The Different Types Of Falernum?
You may have heard of several different kinds of falernum, which makes sense because there’s no single recipe for this cocktail.
Falernum comes from the Spanish word “flor de calabaza” or pumpkin flower, which refers to the yellow flowers found on certain varieties of pumpkins.
The most common type of falernum is called amber or dark falernum.
Amber falernum uses rum instead of brandy, while dark falernum uses both rum and brandy.
The difference between these two forms of falernum is purely aesthetic — they taste exactly the same.
If you want something a little less sweet, then try orange falernum.
In addition to using rum and brandy, it also includes additional sugar and citrus juices like lemon juice.
Orange falernum is very popular among foodies who love their drinks refreshing, so it’s great if you need an alternative to sweetened beverages.
Another variety of falernum is white falernum, which uses water instead of alcohol.
White falernum is often served at weddings and other events where people want to drink responsibly without getting too drunk.
Lastly, we have pink falernum.
Pink falernum is similar to white falernum except that it contains vanilla extract instead of water.
You could think of it as a flavored version of champagne.
These four options are all commonly available in liquor stores across the country.
If none of those options appeal to you, however, don’t worry!
There are plenty of other options out there.
What Are Some Popular Recipes That Use Falernum?
The most common way to enjoy falernum is through rum-based drinks like daiquiris or mojitos.
But there are other ways you can incorporate this classic cocktail into your life! Falernum is also used in many savory dishes such as soups, stews, sauces, and even desserts.
You can make these delicious recipes at home easily with our falernum recipe below.
If you want to try out your hand at cooking up some falernum-inspired food, check out this list of recipes from Food Network Magazine, which includes everything from appetizers to main courses, sides to salads, and desserts to snacks.
They have all sorts of tasty ideas you won’t find anywhere else online.
What Are Some Tips For Using Falernum?
The most important thing you need to know about falernum is that it needs to be stored properly to ensure that it doesn’t become ruined or lose its flavor.
The easiest way to store falernum is in an airtight bottle.
If you don’t have an airtight container, then keep it in the refrigerator.
Store it there for no longer than two weeks.
If you want to extend that period even further, then place the bottle into a freezer bag.
Once you open up a bottle of falernum, it should be consumed within three months of opening.
You will notice that after a short while, the alcohol content begins to evaporate out of the mixture.
Don’t worry though, this isn’t harmful at all!
What Are Some Common Mistakes People Make When Using Falernum?
While there are no real rules about how to use falernum, most people do follow these basic guidelines when they prepare it:
- Don’t add too many spices at once! You don’t want to overwhelm your palate or cause it to become unpleasantly spicy.
- Try not to drink all of the falernum right away.
- Give it enough time to fully develop before consuming it.
- If you like, try adding some orange zest into the mix.
- The sweet citrus flavor will go perfectly well with some rum.
- When preparing this cocktail, remember that less is definitely better.
- Try diluting the falernum slightly before serving it out.
How Should You Store Falernum?
When storing falernum at home, there are two main things to keep in mind: temperature and light exposure.
- If you want to drink it right away or use it within 24 hours after opening, then store it in an airtight container.
- However, if you plan on keeping it longer, then it needs to be stored somewhere dark and cool.
- To ensure your falernum stays fresh, store it in plastic containers instead of glass bottles.
Storing Falernum In The Fridge
You may think that refrigerating your falernum will preserve it better because it’ll stay fresher longer.
However, this isn’t true.
If anything, refrigeration will actually deteriorate the flavor and aroma of your falernum because cold temperatures will cause condensation on the bottle.
Storing Falernum On The Countertop
The most important thing about storing your falernum on the countertop is not to let it get too warm.
Even though it might seem like a good idea to leave it out on the kitchen table all day, the heat from sunlight will break down the alcohol content of the falernum.
As a result, you won’t be able to enjoy it for very long.
A better option would be to place it inside another container so that it doesn’t touch the outside surface of the container directly.
You could even put it inside a ziploc bag before placing it into the fridge or cupboard.
What Are Some Uses For Leftover Falernum?
If you have too much left over from this recipe or another falernum recipe, here are a few ideas for how to use up all those bottles of liquor!
- Make an Old Fashioned cocktail using Falernoam instead of bourbon, and top each glass with fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, bitters and ice before adding 1-2 ounces of the leftover falernum.
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of leftover falernum to sparkling water for a refreshing drink anytime.
- Mix 2-3 tablespoons of leftover falernum into seltzer water for a delicious mocktail.
- Use leftover falernum in place of rum and add it to chocolate chip cookies along with vanilla extract and brown sugar.
- Try mixing 2-4 tablespoons leftover falernum with orange juice or cranberry juice for a festive beverage.
- Replace simple syrup with leftover falernum when preparing a mimosa.
- Stir 3 cups of leftover falernum into hot coffee and garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.
- Use leftover falernum in place of vodka and add it to a batch of eggnog for a special holiday treat.
- Toss 4 cups of leftover falernum with 8 cups of ice cubes and serve in a large pitcher at your next tailgate party.
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Jar
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
- 1½ cups blanched almonds
- ½ cup peeled
- 1 Tbsp. whole cloves
- 1 Tbsp. whole allspice
- 4 star anise pods
- 1 Zest of lime
- 1 quart white sugar
- 2 quarts filtered water
- Overproof rum
Instructions
- A large glass jar should be filled with almonds, then sealed with 1 quart of water. Allow to sit for 30 minutes, occasionally shaking. Remove the water from the almonds and discard it before cleaning the jar.
- The almonds should be roughly chopped before being re-added to the jar along with the final quart of water and being sealed. Place in the refrigerator overnight or let sit for 4 hours while shaking occasionally.
- Over medium heat, add the star anise, cloves, and spices to a large skillet and stir frequently. Add the jar’s contents to the pot once a minute has passed.
- Stirring constantly, add the sugar and ginger to the saucepan. Reduce heat to low when mixture begins to boil, then simmer for 15 minutes while stirring constantly. In the meantime, wash the empty glass jar.
- Turn off the heat and allow to cool. After it has cooled, whisk in the lime zest.
- Refill the glass jar with the contents, seal it, and chill it for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Through two layers of cheesecloth, pour the liquid into a large measuring cup. 1 ounce of rum should be added for every 5 ounces of syrup. Stir thoroughly to combine. Distribute, cap, and refrigerate into new bottles. will last for two weeks at most.
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.