São Tomé's "arranged rum" is an alcoholic beverage infused with spices and fruits from the Chocolate Island (
São Tomé), which can be easily prepared at home. Sacha brings back from his last trip Edmilson Augusto's recipe for a memorable flavored liqueur. His homemade preparation exclusively blends products from his mother's backyard garden (vanilla, pepper, fresh fruit, and of course, cocoa).
By following a few simple steps, you can reproduce and "arrange" your liqueur with the ingredients of your choice, creating a craft drink that evokes tropical aromas and exquisite flavors. In this article, we will explore the process of making an "arranged" white liqueur, using carefully chosen ingredients to achieve a perfect infusion. To guide you, we have recreated two variations in our arcade in Geneva: one with white rum and the other with the famous cachaça.
By following a few simple steps, you can reproduce and "arrange" your liqueur with the ingredients of your choice, creating a craft drink that evokes tropical aromas and exquisite flavors. In this article, we will explore the process of making an "arranged" white liqueur, using carefully chosen ingredients to achieve a perfect infusion. To guide you, we have recreated two variations in our arcade in Geneva: one with white rum and the other with the famous cachaça.
on the right cachaça pineapple vanilla and on the left white rum cocoa, vanilla, pepper and cinnamon
Basic Ingredients:
- White Rum or Cachaça: Choose an alcohol derived from sugar cane; we recommend an agricultural white rum or a cachaça. A white spirit is recommended to allow more room for the spices to express themselves. Use a quality liqueur for optimal flavors.
- Inclusions: Toasted cocoa nibs are ideal as a base for this liqueur. Then, to refine the aromatic bouquet, we recommend the three classic spices from São Tomé's garden: vanilla, cinnamon, and wild pepper.
Here, we have made two variations. The first blends pineapple, ginger, and vanilla, while the second combines cocoa, pepper, vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon.
- Sugars: Sugar is important for facilitating the transformation; depending on your preferences, the chosen sweetener can be honey, brown sugar, or cane sugar.
- An airtight jar: such as a canning jar with an opening wide enough to introduce the ingredients.
Preparation: Cocoa and São Tomé Spiced Liqueur
- Step 1. Ingredient Preparation: If you have raw beans, you can roast them at home. Consult our small guide here for home roasting. For the spices, keep them whole.
- Step 2. Combining Ingredients: Place the cocoa, spices, and sugars in an airtight glass jar. The quantity depends on your preferences, but as a general rule, do not exceed one third of the total volume of the jar.
- Step 3. Mix the liqueur and sugar: In an airtight jar, mix the liqueur of your choice and add 10% of its quantity in sugar. Mix until the sugar is perfectly dissolved.
- Step 4. Assemble the ingredients: Add the chosen rum to the airtight jar, ensuring that the ingredients are completely submerged.
- Step 5. Maceration: Close the jar tightly and place it in a dark, cool place. Let it macerate for at least three weeks, shaking the jar occasionally to blend the flavors.
- Step 6. Filtering: Once maceration is complete, filter the rum using a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove solid residues.
- Step 7. Tasting: Transfer the arranged rum into clean bottles and enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail according to your preferences. Ingredients like vanilla and pepper can accompany the liqueur in the new container to continue releasing their aromas.
Other considerations for infusions
- Experiment with different combinations of fruits, spices, and sugars to create unique flavors.
- Be sure to use quality ingredients to obtain an exceptional arranged rum or cachaça.
- Be patient during maceration, as time allows the flavors to blend harmoniously.
Enjoy!
Sacha
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