What is Maraschino?
Maraschino, maraschino or maraschino is a bittersweet, clear liqueur made from the marasca cherry, a variety of sour cherry grown in the Croatian region of Dalmatia, particularly in the province of Zadar, as well as in Torreglia (near Padua in northern Italy). The recipe originates from the Dalmatian city of Zadar. As early as the 16th century, the Dominican monks of the monastery in Zadar wrote down the recipe for the Maraschino they produced. When industrial liqueur production began in the 18th century, the drink conquered Europe. Maraschino is one of the few liqueurs that is distilled. The distillate is made from both the pulp and the (broken) pit of the marasca cherry, which gives the liqueur its characteristic flavour, an almond aroma. Honey is also part of the age-old recipe. The distillate is aged for two years in Finnish ash barrels, a type of wood that does not give off colour, before being diluted and sugared. It is typically bottled in straw-coated bottles. The liqueur is used in cocktails and pastries. As a flavouring, maraschino is used in chipolata pudding, among other things.