Mandarin Liqueur

Name: Mandarin Liqueur
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 0
Ingredients: Mandarin oranges untreated 20; Pure alcohol 96% ABV 4 ¼ cups; Water 4 ¼ cups; Sugar 5 cups

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137

Calories per serving

Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Vegetarian
Vegan

Energy Kcal 137
Carbohydrates g 12.8
of which sugars g 12.8
Protein g 0.1
of which saturated fat g 0.01
Fiber g 0.3
Sodium mg 1

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 5 min
Makes: persone
Cost: Low
Note + the maceration and resting time (15-20 days total)

PRESENTATION

Mandarin liqueur is a classic in southern Italy, especially when mandarins fill the markets. Really, it's a citrus liqueur with amazing aroma and color from those winter mandarin peels. You get a strong punch—without any cream or milk. Pretty awesome, right? The result? A mandarin liqueur that’s a bright orange and a sweet, almost floral smell. Feels like pure sunshine in a glass. To be honest, it's bold and tangy. In Calabria and Sicily, making this at home is a point of pride. After a meal, friends and family gather with a small glass of orange liqueur. They savor the moment. And the company? Lovely.

Holiday parties in Italy become special with homemade mandarin liqueur on the table. Folks love adding it to fruit salads or giving cookies and cakes a moist kick. Some families have been crafting their own for generations. Sharing tips on macerating peels for the deepest flavor is a tradition. And, also, which mandarins work best? So so important.

Not just for sipping straight, this liqueur adds fun to mandarin liqueur cocktails—just pour over ice or mix with sparkling water for a really refreshing drink. You’ll often see it next to homemade limoncello or ginger liqueur—Italian homes just love these fruit-based drinks. Bringing out a bottle of citrus liqueur at Christmas or New Year’s? Seriously inviting. You’re offering something special.

It’s not just about the zesty taste—it’s about keeping old traditions alive. Here’s the deal: in every sip, you’re enjoying Italy’s heritage. The warmth and joy of gathering with loved ones. Whether you're a fan of digestifs or just curious about new flavors, mandarin liqueur offers a colorful taste of southern Italy's festive spirit. For real.

How to prepare Mandarin Liqueur

To make the mandarin liqueur, first wash the mandarins under running water 1 and dry them carefully with a clean cloth 2, then gently remove the peel 3.

After separating the fruit from the peels 4, cover the latter with pure alcohol 5. Let macerate for 5 days at room temperature covered with plastic wrap, in a cool place away from light 6. Remember to shake the mixture once a day.

After this time, prepare the syrup: pour the sugar and water into a saucepan 7, light the heat 8, and wait for it to boil 9, then turn off and let cool completely.

Add the syrup to the mixture of peels and alcohol 10, mix well, and let it rest covered for about 10-20 days 11, always taking care to shake it once a day. After this time, the volume will be slightly reduced, and the color will be more intense 12.

At this point, filter the mixture to remove the peels 13 and decant it into bottles 14. Your mandarin liqueur is ready to be enjoyed very cold 15!

Storage

The mandarin liqueur can be stored at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer for about 3 months.

Advice

You can flavor the mandarin liqueur by adding 1-2 cloves, a cinnamon stick, or a couple of sprigs of rosemary during the maceration phase.

To intensify the flavor, you can also add the zest of an orange!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Mandarin Liqueur

PRESENTATION

How to prepare Mandarin Liqueur

Storage

Advice

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