🥃 Licor de hierbas de Galicia
Sweet Galician liqueur made with at least three herbs in grape-marc spirit: EU protected name, 20–40% ABV, sugar at least 100 g/l.
Licor de hierbas de Galicia (Galician herbal liqueur) is an EU protected name for a sweet liqueur made in Galicia from at least three species of plants, using local grape-marc spirit, Orujo de Galicia, and spirit of agricultural origin. The grape-marc spirit provides at least 25% of all the alcohol. The strength is 20–40% ABV, and sugar is from 100 g per litre.
A liqueur, not a spirit. There are two similar names in Galicia. Galician herb spirit (Aguardiente de hierbas) is stronger, 37.5–50% ABV, and has less than 100 g of sugar per litre. The herbal liqueur is sweeter and weaker, so under EU law it is a liqueur, not a bitter, although catalogues sometimes list it among bitters.
Herbs and method. Any edible plant is permitted; the traditional ones are mint, chamomile, lemon verbena, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, coriander, orange blossom, fennel, liquorice, nutmeg and cinnamon. The herbs are steeped in spirit, in alcohol or in a mixture of both, or the spirit is distilled together with the herbs, or both methods are combined.
Protected name. Galicia granted regional protection on 8 September 2004, together with the coffee liqueur and the herb spirit; since 2012 all four Galician names have been overseen by one council, which issues numbered back labels. The name now operates under Regulation (EU) 2019/787. In 2019 about 139,000 litres were certified.
Why it matters to you. The name “Licor de hierbas de Galicia” guarantees Galician grape-marc spirit and at least three plants, but not health benefits: such claims are banned in the EU on drinks above 1.2% vol. It is a sweet drink of up to 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| EU category | liqueur (cat. 33 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787); protected name |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | regional protection since 8 September 2004; joint council regulation of 3 January 2012 |
| Raw material | at least three plants; Orujo de Galicia (at least 25% of the alcohol) and spirit of agricultural origin; sugar |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 20–40% ABV; sugar from 100 g/l |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Licor de hierbas de Galicia → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Maceration
- Made from
- 🥃 Orujo de Galicia
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Related to
- 🥃 Digestif, 📍 Galicia
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Spaniards
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Aguardiente de hierbas de Galicia, 🥃 Bayerischer Kräuterlikör, 🥃 Licor café de Galicia, 🥃 Licor café de Galicia
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Licor de hierbas de Galicia is a bitter?
No. It is a liqueur: at least 100 g of sugar per litre and 20–40% ABV. Bitter spirit drinks form a separate category under EU law.
How does Galician herbal liqueur differ from Galician herb spirit?
The liqueur is weaker (20–40% ABV) and sweeter (from 100 g of sugar per litre); the herb spirit is 37.5–50% ABV with less than 100 g of sugar.
Which herbs go into Licor de hierbas de Galicia?
At least three plants; the traditional ones are mint, chamomile, lemon verbena, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, coriander, orange blossom, fennel, liquorice, nutmeg and cinnamon.
What spirit is it made on?
On Galician grape-marc spirit and spirit of agricultural origin; the grape-marc spirit provides at least 25% of all the alcohol.
How can you recognise a genuine bottle?
By the name “Licor de hierbas de Galicia” on the label and the numbered back label issued by the council that oversees Galician spirits and liqueurs.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Maceration — Steeping the juice with the skins to extract colour, tannins and aroma.
- 🥃 Digestif — A small serving of brandy, grappa, amaro or liqueur at the end of a meal; French digestif, Italian digestivo. A custom, not an EU category.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Spaniards — The people of Spain; flamenco, human towers, Fallas, the world's largest vineyards and over a third of the world's olive oil.
- 🥃 Bayerischer Kräuterlikör — Protected EU geographical indication for herbal liqueurs of Bavaria: spirit infusions of herbs, roots, flowers and spices, sweetened with sugar or honey; at least 15 % vol.
Similar
🥃 Pacharán navarro · 🥃 Palo de Mallorca · 🥃 Genepì del Piemonte · 🥃 Mirto di Sardegna · 🥃 Genepì della Valle d'Aosta · 🥃 Mariazeller Magenlikör
⚠️ 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
- AGACAL (Xunta de Galicia): Ficha técnica IIXX das Augardentes e Licores Tradicionais de Galicia, 2019 — protection of Augardente de herbas, Licor de herbas and Licor café de Galicia by Order of 08.09.2004; common Consello Regulador (Order of 03.01.2012); Licor de herbas and Licor café: Orujo de Galicia min. 25 % of absolute alcohol, 20–40 % vol., sugar min. 100 g/l; herbs min. three species; numbered back label; 2019 certified volume — Licor café 146,228 l, Licor de herbas 138,730 l
- AGACAL (Xunta de Galicia): Ficha técnica IXP Augardentes 2025 — same parameters for Licor de herbas de Galicia and Licor café de Galicia (20–40 % vol., sugar min. 100 g/l, min. 25 % of absolute alcohol from the protected grape-marc spirit, now named Augardente de Galicia)
- MAPA (Spain): Expediente técnico de la IG Licor Café de Galicia, May 2017 — history of grape-marc spirits and liqueurs in Galicia (16th–19th c.), regional protection of the Galician liqueur indications by Order of 08.09.2004
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I: cat. 33 liqueur (min. 15 %, sugar from 100 g/l in general); Chapter III — geographical indications
- 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)