🥃 Hüttentee

Hüttentee, meaning ‘hut tea’, is a German liqueur based on spirit, black tea, rum and sugar, whose name has been protected in the EU since 13 February 2008. It is sold ready to drink or as a strong concentrate, from which mountain huts make a hot drink in winter by adding hot water or tea.

Composition. According to the technical documentation, every Hüttentee contains ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, black tea or tea extract, rum and sugar, so all of them have a noticeable rum note. Producers may add fruit distillates, arrack, juices, citrus zest, spices and natural flavourings. The colour ranges from reddish to brown.

Standards. The finished liqueur has at least 22.5% ABV, more than the general EU minimum for liqueurs of 15% ABV, and at least 100 g of sugar per litre. The ingredients are mixed in vats, diluted with water to the required strength and bottled. Only natural flavourings are allowed.

History. The hot drink of tea and rum spread through the mountain regions of Germany and Austria from the late 19th century, among woodcutters, hunters and skiers. From the 1960s winter tourism in the Bavarian Alps popularised it. Until 2008 the drink was sold in Germany as Jägertee; since then this name has been protected in the EU for Austria.

Why this matters to you. Hot tea in a glass does not cancel the alcohol: the finished liqueur has at least 22.5% ABV, and after several glasses on a ski slope or mountain path the risk of injury grows. The feeling of warmth from alcohol is misleading. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.