🥃 Swedish aquavit (Svensk Aquavit)
EU protected name for aquavit made from Swedish spirit flavoured with a distillate of caraway and/or dill, with fennel always included; 37.5–50% ABV.
Swedish aquavit (Svensk Aquavit, also Svensk Akvavit) is an EU protected name for aquavit made in Sweden from Swedish spirit and flavoured with a distillate of caraway and/or dill together with fennel seed. Fennel is the main difference from other aquavits. Strength ranges from 37.5 to 50% ABV; the drink is clear, sometimes lightly coloured.
Spices. Caraway, dill and fennel must be noticeable in the aroma or taste; the technical file even sets a minimum content of carvone and anethole. Bitter orange peel, ginger or anise are often added. The spices themselves may be imported, but the spice distillates must be made in Sweden.
How it is made. The spices are macerated in spirit diluted to 40–70% ABV for between 12 hours and 14 days, then distilled in batches in a pot still. The spirit must be Swedish, made from wheat, rye, barley, oats or potatoes grown in the country. The blend with Swedish water is put together by master blenders in Sweden, and recipes are often kept secret.
Tradition. Distilling has been known in Sweden since around the 16th century; the original spirit was called brännvin. The spiced version was first taken as medicine, hence the name "aquavit". Cajsa Warg's cookbook of 1755 contains about twenty recipes. Today aquavit is served with the Swedish smörgåsbord. The name has been in the EU register since 29 August 1994.
Why this matters to you. The name "Svensk Aquavit" guarantees Swedish spirit, Swedish water and mandatory fennel, but not better digestion: it is a strong drink of up to 50% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| EU category | aquavit (cat. 24 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787); protected name |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | EU register since 29.08.1994 (PGI-SE-01927) |
| Raw material | spirit from Swedish wheat, rye, barley, oats or potatoes; caraway and/or dill and fennel; Swedish water |
| Distillation method | spice maceration 12 h – 14 days, batch distillation in a pot still |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 37.5–50% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Swedish aquavit (Svensk Aquavit) → kind of → 🌱 Caraway spirits and aquavit → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Maceration, 🥃 Distillation
- Made from
- 🥃 Caraway, 🥃 Ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Aquavit, 🌱 Caraway spirits and aquavit
- Related to
- 🌍 Northern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Norwegian aquavit (Norsk Akevitt), 🥃 Swedish vodka (Svensk Vodka), 🥃 Swedish vodka (Svensk Vodka), 🥃 Finnish vodka (Suomalainen Vodka), 🥃 Finnish vodka (Suomalainen Vodka)
Frequently asked questions
Does aquavit help digest fatty food?
No, that is only an old belief. Swedish aquavit is a strong drink of 37.5–50% ABV, and the WHO stresses that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
How does Swedish aquavit differ from Norwegian?
Swedish aquavit must contain fennel alongside caraway or dill, and its spirit comes from Swedish grain or potatoes; Norwegian aquavit is made from potatoes and aged in casks.
Which spices must Svensk Aquavit contain?
Caraway and/or dill together with fennel seed; bitter orange peel, ginger or anise are often added.
How is Swedish aquavit made?
The spices are macerated in diluted spirit for 12 hours to 14 days, distilled in batches in a pot still and then blended with Swedish spirit and water.
How strong is Swedish aquavit?
From 37.5 to 50% ABV.
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.
- 🥃 Distillation — Distilling a fermented liquid: ethanol evaporates before water, the vapor is cooled and collected; in batches in a pot still or continuously in a column.
- 🌍 Northern Europe — Scandinavia, Finland, Denmark and Iceland: a cold land of cows, Icelandic skyr, Norwegian brunost and Danish cheeses with protected names.
- 🥃 Norwegian aquavit (Norsk Akevitt) — Norway's GI: aquavit from Norwegian potato spirit, aged in casks for at least 6 months; 37.5-60% vol.
Similar
🥃 Finnish vodka (Suomalainen Vodka) · 🥃 Swedish vodka (Svensk Vodka) · 🥃 Norsk Vodka · 🥃 Finnish berry liqueur (Suomalainen Marjalikööri) · 🥃 Originali lietuviška degtinė · 🥃 Swedish punch (Svensk Punsch)
⚠️ 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
- European Commission, eAmbrosia GI register — technical file PGI-SE-01927 'Svensk Aquavit / Svensk Akvavit / Swedish Aquavit' (Ares(2017)1007255): 37.5–50 % vol.; caraway and/or dill plus fennel seed obligatory; ethyl alcohol from Swedish wheat, rye, barley, oat or potatoes; spices macerated 12 hours to 14 days in 40–70 % vol. spirit and distilled in batches in a pot still; blending with Swedish water in Sweden; brännvin from around the 1500s, about 20 aquavit recipes in Kajsa Warg's 1755 cookbook
- GOV.UK (Defra): Protected food and drink names — Svensk Aquavit / Svensk Akvavit / Swedish Aquavit, spirit drink GI, Sweden
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex III (geographical indications) as at 31.01.2020 (legislation.gov.uk): Sweden — cat. 24 akvavit/aquavit: Svensk Aquavit / Svensk Akvavit / Swedish Aquavit
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks: Annex I, cat. 24 akvavit or aquavit (caraway and/or dill distillate, min. 37.5 % vol.)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)