🥃 Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola
A Spanish herbal anise drink with an EU protected name: at least four plants from the Sierra de Mariola mountains in Alicante province, macerated or distilled with spirit; 22–40% ABV.
Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola is a Spanish herbal anise drink from the province of Alicante with an EU protected name. Plants gathered in and around the Sierra de Mariola mountains are steeped or distilled with neutral spirit, and aniseed extract is added. The strength ranges from 22 to 40% ABV.
Plants. The technical file requires at least four plants from its list, which includes sage, chamomile, marsh mint, lemon verbena, peppermint, fennel, anise, lemon balm, savory, lavender and thyme. The taste must come only from this mixture and the aniseed extract; other essences are forbidden. The colour ranges from clear to reddish-brown.
Production. The plants are steeped for at least 10 days in a water-alcohol solution of at least 60% ABV. The mixture is then either distilled, with heads and tails separated, or the infusion is used directly. The finished drink rests for at least two months before bottling. Herbero comes dry or sweet; the sweet type has at least 30 g of sugar per litre.
The region. The Sierra de Mariola is a small mountain range in the north of the province of Alicante, covering about 17,000 hectares and a natural park since 2002; around it lie Alcoy, Cocentaina, Bocairent and other towns. As early as the late 18th century, the botanist Antonio José Cavanilles described the rich flora of these mountains and mentioned the local distilleries.
Why this matters to you. A herbal aroma and the reputation of a folk remedy do not make herbero a medicine: in the EU drinks above 1.2% ABV may not be claimed to benefit health, and this drink reaches 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 22–40% ABV |
|---|---|
| Raw material | neutral spirit of agricultural origin, at least four plants from the Sierra de Mariola, aniseed or aniseed extract; sweet type — at least 30 g/l sugar |
| Minimum maturation | rest for at least 2 months before bottling |
| EU category | EU PGI in the category 'other spirit drinks' |
| Legal basis | EU PGI (EUGI00000015356), protected since 13.02.2008; technical file Ares(2016)1248130 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola → kind of → 🌿 Anise spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Maceration
- Made from
- 🥃 Anise
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health
- Part of
- 🌿 Anise spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink, 🥃 Cantueso Alicantino, 🥃 Aperitivo Café de Alcoy, 🥃 Anís Paloma Monforte del Cid, 🥃 Aguardiente de hierbas de Galicia
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that herbero is a medicinal herbal tincture?
No. Despite the herbs in its make-up, it is a strong drink of up to 40% ABV, and in the EU it may not be claimed to benefit health.
How many plants are in herbero?
According to the technical file, at least four from a list of fifteen, gathered in and around the Sierra de Mariola; each producer chooses the exact mixture.
What is the strength of herbero?
From 22 to 40% ABV; the sweet type has at least 30 g of sugar per litre.
How is it made?
The plants are steeped for at least 10 days in spirit of at least 60% ABV, then either distilled, or the infusion is mixed with aniseed extract, water and spirit; before bottling the drink rests for two months.
Where is herbero made?
In the province of Alicante (Valencian Community); it may be bottled elsewhere.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌍 Southern Europe — The Mediterranean south of Europe — Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses and most of the world's olive oil.
- 🍷 Maceration — Steeping the juice with the skins to extract colour, tannins and aroma.
- 🥃 Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink — Category 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787: spirit of agricultural origin flavoured with anise, star anise or fennel; the taste of anise predominates; from 15% ABV.
- 🥃 Aguardiente de hierbas de Galicia — Galician herb spirit based on Orujo de Galicia pomace brandy, flavoured with at least three herbs: EU protected name, 37.5–50 % vol., sugar under 100 g/l.
Similar
🥃 Hierbas Ibicencas · 🥃 Hierbas de Mallorca · 🥃 Chinchón · 🥃 Ouzo of Plomari · 🥃 Hrvatska travarica · 🥃 Anís Paloma Monforte del Cid
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- eAmbrosia: fiche technique de l'IG 'Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola', Ref. Ares(2016)1248130 (autres boissons spiritueuses; boisson anisée, province d'Alicante; 22–40 % vol.; sec ou doux, doux ≥ 30 g/l de sucre; au moins quatre plantes de la Sierra de Mariola; macération ≥ 10 jours à ≥ 60 % vol.; repos ≥ 2 mois; parc naturel 2002, 17 257 ha; Cavanilles)
- eAmbrosia — EU geographical indications register: Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola (EUGI00000015356), spirit drink, Spain; EU protection 13.02.2008
- Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (Spain): Datos de las bebidas espirituosas con Indicación Geográfica 2022 (Madrid, 2023) — 19 Spanish spirit GIs; Comunitat Valenciana: Anís Paloma Monforte del Cid, Aperitivo Café de Alcoy, Cantueso Alicantino, Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims, Art. 4(3): no health claims on beverages over 1.2 % vol.
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)