Queimada
Queimada is Galicia's flaming spirit punch, made by setting light to orujo with sugar, lemon and coffee beans until the flames dance blue. Traditionally an incantation is chanted over the pot to ward off evil spirits, making it as much ritual as drink.
Approximate, per 1 small ceramic mug (~100ml). Values vary by recipe and portion.
Ingredients
- ·1 l orujo (grape-pomace spirit)
- ·150 g sugar
- ·peel of 1 lemon, in strips
- ·peel of 1 orange, in strips
- ·a handful of coffee beans
Method
- 1
Pour the orujo into a wide fireproof clay pot or heatproof bowl, keeping it well away from anything flammable and never underneath an extractor hood.
- 2
Add the sugar, the strips of lemon and orange peel and the coffee beans, stirring to begin dissolving the sugar.
- 3
Take a ladleful of the mixture, add a little extra sugar to it, and hold it up; carefully set the ladle alight and let the sugar caramelise into flame.
- 4
Lower the flaming ladle back to the pot to ignite the whole surface, which will catch with blue flames.
- 5
Stir slowly and lift ladlefuls of burning liquid high above the pot to aerate it; the flames burn off some alcohol and mellow the drink.
- 6
Let it burn for several minutes until the flames begin to die down and the colour deepens; this is the moment for the traditional conxuro to be recited.
- 7
Cover to extinguish the flames, then ladle the warm queimada into cups and serve at once.