🥃 Ratafia
Ratafia is a name for sweet liqueurs; the EU protects Ratafia Catalana (green walnuts, 24–30% ABV) and the French Ratafia champenois (grape must with spirit).
Ratafia is a name used for sweet liqueurs. In the EU two ratafias have a protected name: Ratafia Catalana from Catalonia, Spain, and Ratafia champenois from Champagne, France. The Catalan technical file also notes that in Spain 'ratafia' is a voluntary term for the spirit drink category liqueur (Royal Decree 164/2014).
Catalan ratafia. Ratafia Catalana is a protected geographical indication in the liqueur category, made in Catalonia by steeping green walnuts (Juglans regia), at least 10 g per litre of finished product, in alcohol of agricultural origin with aromatic plants that must include lemon verbena, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg (at least 5 g per litre together). The walnuts steep for at least three months. The liqueur is 24–30% ABV with 100–400 g/l of sugar (as invert sugar), brown, thick, and is aged at least three months in wooden containers. The label must carry 'Indicación Geográfica Protegida Ratafia Catalana' or 'IGP Ratafia Catalana'. The file retells the legend of the name: bishops of several Catalan dioceses signed a treaty with the words 'rata fiat' ('let it be signed').
French ratafia. Ratafia champenois, called Ratafia de Champagne until Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/623 approved the change of name, is a liqueur-category spirit drink. According to INAO it is a blend of grape must and alcohol of wine origin, sold after at least 10 months of maturation in tank or cask, or at least 3 years of ageing in wood. Its colour runs from straw yellow to amber, and the area is the same as that of the Champagne AOP. INAO notes that the origin of the word is disputed; the most accepted explanation is the Latin 'rata fiat' ('let the treaty be ratified').
What the law says. In Regulation (EU) 2019/787 a liqueur has a minimum strength of 15% ABV and, in most cases, at least 100 g of sweetening products per litre.
Why this matters to you. The word 'ratafia' alone does not tell you what the drink is made from, so check the label. The WHO states that there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health.
Facts
| EU category | liqueur, Reg. (EU) 2019/787; PGI Ratafia Catalana (PGI-ES-01945), Ratafia champenois 14 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787; Impl. Reg. (EU) 2020/623 (name Ratafia champenois) 34 |
| Raw material | Catalan — green walnuts, aromatic plants, sugar, spirit; French — grape must and alcohol of wine origin 12 |
| Minimum maturation | Catalan — 3 months steeping and 3 months in wood; French — 10 months in tank/cask or 3 years in wood 12 |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | Catalan — 24–30% ABV; EU liqueur — from 15% ABV 14 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Ratafia → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Marc champenois
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Images and sayings
- 🥃 Fine de Bourgogne
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 French
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe, 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Nocino, 🍷 Ratafia de Champagne, 🍷 Pineau des Charentes
Frequently asked questions
Is ratafia one specific drink?
No. It is a name for different sweet liqueurs; the protected ones are Ratafia Catalana (green walnuts) and Ratafia champenois (grape must with spirit).
What is Ratafia Catalana made from?
From green walnuts steeped in agricultural alcohol for at least three months with lemon verbena, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, then at least three months in wood; 24–30% ABV.
What is Ratafia champenois?
A French protected name for a blend of grape must and alcohol of wine origin, matured at least 10 months in tank or cask or 3 years in wood; formerly Ratafia de Champagne.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 French — The French are the main population of France, known for the festive meal and baguette on UNESCO's list, for wine and for cheese.
Similar
🍇 Crème de… liqueur · 🥃 Marula Cream Liqueur · 🥃 Centerbe · 🥃 Limoncello · 🥃 Goldwasser · 🥃 Hüttentee
⚠️ 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
- Ministerio de Agricultura (Spain): technical file PGI-ES-01945 «Ratafia Catalana», liqueur (green walnuts ≥10 g/l; lemon verbena, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg ≥5 g/l; 24–30 % vol.; sugar 100–400 g/l; ≥3 months in wood)
- INAO: Ratafia de Champagne ou Ratafia champenois (product sheet: must + spirit of wine origin; 10 months in tank/cask or 3 years in wood; area of Champagne AOP)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/623 approving amendments to the specification of the GI «Ratafia de Champagne» (incl. change of name to «Ratafia champenois»)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 33 liqueur (min. 15 % vol.; sweetening products, in most cases 100 g/l)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)