🥃 Țuică

Țuică is a traditional Romanian strong drink, made only by fermenting and distilling plums: whole, crushed or as juice, with or without stones. Under EU law it is a fruit spirit, a kind of plum brandy: at least 37.5% ABV, with no added sugar, flavourings, colourings or extra spirit. Țuică is often made at home and served as an aperitif.

What Romanian law requires. The 2008 rules for traditional Romanian spirit drinks allow distilling in copper pot stills over fire or in stills, but below 86% ABV, to keep the plum aroma. Methanol is limited to 1,200 g and hydrogen cyanide to 7 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol. Țuică is aged in wood, stainless steel or glass; «țuică bătrână» must be at least 3 years old, «țuică extra» at least 7 years.

Protected names. Two Țuică spirits have been on the EU register since 21 June 2005: Țuică Zetea de Medieșu Aurit from Satu Mare county, distilled three times, and Țuică de Argeș, distilled once in a copper cauldron. An application for a third name, a plum țuică from Horezu, was filed in December 2024. The Romanian distillates Pălincă and Horincă de Cămârzana also have their own protected names.

How it is made. Ripe plums ferment for several weeks in wooden vats or tubs. The mash, borhot, is distilled in a copper still in a separate building, the distillery. The first half litre of distillate, the «heads», is discarded, as are the last fractions, the «tails»: heads contain more hydrogen cyanide and toxic alcohols, tails substances with an unpleasant taste.

Why this matters to you. The word «țuică» on a label means plums only: a spirit made from other fruit cannot be called țuică. Homemade țuică is not checked in a laboratory, and methanol and hydrogen cyanide from the stones are allowed only within limits. WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.