🥃 Tia Maria
A coffee liqueur created in Jamaica in the 1940s; made from Arabica coffee, Jamaican rum, vanilla and sugar; now made in Italy; owned by ILLVA Saronno.
Tia Maria is a coffee liqueur created in Jamaica after the Second World War. It contains Arabica coffee, Jamaican white rum, vanilla and sugar, and its strength is 20% ABV. Today the liqueur is made in Italy, and since 2009 the brand has belonged to ILLVA Saronno.
According to available data and Difford's Guide, the liqueur was created in Kingston, Jamaica, by Dr Ken Evans and Morris Cargill; 1946 is given as the year it appeared. The name means "Aunt Maria". Ownership changed: Allied, from 2005 Pernod Ricard, and from July 2009 ILLVA Saronno, which paid about EUR 125 million. So in catalogues the country "Jamaica" is only the origin, not the place of production, and the year of purchase is 2009, not 2014.
According to Difford's Guide, the coffee for the liqueur is 100% Arabica, cold-brewed for 6-12 hours. Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, Jamaican white rum, sugar and cane spirit are added. The exact proportions are not disclosed. Some sources mention Jamaican coffee, while Difford's does not state where the beans come from, so to be honest, we do not claim it.
The strength has also changed: earlier there were versions at 31.5 and 26.5%, and now it is 20%. The liqueur is most often drunk with ice, with milk or coffee, and is also added to desserts and cocktails.
Why this matters to you. Tia Maria is a liqueur, not coffee: it contains alcohol and sugar. "Jamaican" refers to its origin and the rum, but not to where it is made: today that is Italy. Old bottles may have a different strength, so check the label. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1946 (according to available data), Jamaica |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Arabica coffee, Jamaican white rum, Bourbon vanilla, sugar, cane spirit |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 20% ABV (earlier 31.5 and 26.5%) |
| EU category | 33: liqueur |
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 33 (liqueur) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Tia Maria → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Rum
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Kahlúa, 🥃 Kahlúa, 🥃 Sheridan's, 🥃 Kahlúa Especial, 🥃 Kahlúa Original Coffee Liqueur, 🥃 Galliano, 🥃 Galliano, 🥃 Chambord, 🥃 Chambord, 🥃 Coffee liqueur
- In other topics
- ☕ Coffee
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Tia Maria is made in Jamaica?
No, not today. The liqueur was created in Jamaica in the 1940s, but it is now made in Italy. What stays Jamaican is the origin and the rum in the recipe.
What is in Tia Maria?
According to Difford's Guide: cold-brewed Arabica coffee, Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, Jamaican white rum, sugar and cane spirit.
What is the strength of Tia Maria?
Today 20% ABV. Earlier, versions at 31.5 and 26.5% were produced.
What does the name Tia Maria mean?
"Aunt Maria": that is how, according to the sources, the liqueur was named. It originated in Jamaica; according to available data, Dr Ken Evans and Morris Cargill are the creators, in 1946.
Who owns Tia Maria?
The Italian company ILLVA Saronno, since July 2009, for about EUR 125 million. Before that the brand belonged to Allied and Pernod Ricard.
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.
- 🥃 Rum — A distillate of sugar-cane molasses, syrup or juice: in the EU at least 37.5% vol., no flavourings or added alcohol, up to 20 g/l of sugar.
- 🌍 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.
- 🥃 Kahlúa — Mexican coffee liqueur created in 1936 in Veracruz: Arabica coffee, rum and sugar; part of Pernod Ricard.
Similar
🥃 Frangelico · 🥃 Kahlúa · 🥃 Licor 43 · 🥃 RumChata · 🥃 Tuaca · 🥃 Pimm's
⚠️ 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
- Difford's Guide: Tia Maria (origin in Jamaica after WWII, strength changes, Pernod Ricard 2005, ILLVA Saronno 2009, 100 % Arabica)
- Tia Maria — official site
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Art. 2 and Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)