A comparative study of an assortment of plum distilled drinks, made in Romania

Abstract

The Romanian assortment of alcoholic drinks distilled from fruits, homologated in Romania, consists in ţuica (brandy) of different assortments, fruit brandies and specific natural liqueurs. According to the existing legislation, the alcoholic concentration of 37 vol. % makes the difference between the superior distilled drinks that may have specific names, and the inferior assortments that may be called spirits. The traditional ţuica is a plum distillate, made in copper still with open fire by simple distillation, having its origin in a region situated in the Subcarpathians of Muntenia. According to Ord. 362/2008, palinca (strong plum brandy) is a traditional Romanian alcoholic drink, obtained exclusively by alcoholic fermentation and distillation of fleshy fruits, mixture of fruits or from marc of fruits or juice made of these fruits or fruit mixture, with or without stones. Şliboviţa (strong plum brandy) is a 38 % vol. or 40% vol. drink, obtained by distillation and redistilation of plum marc, in the same areas as superior brandy assortments, followed by ageing. It is produced in Balkans. In Serbia, almost 70% of the harvested plums (late varieties, Damask plums or quetsches, Prunus domestica subsp. insititia) are changed into şliboviţa.