Tentura (, from Venetian ''tentura'' 'tincture'), also spelled Tentoura, Tintura, or Tintoura, is a liqueur produced in the
Greek city of
Patras
Patras (; ; Katharevousa and ; ) is Greece's List of cities in Greece, third-largest city and the regional capital and largest city of Western Greece, in the northern Peloponnese, west of Athens. The city is built at the foot of Mount Panachaiko ...
since the 15th century. It is prepared by sweetening and flavoring various types of distillate alcohol with herbs and spices; thus the name tentura which comes from the
Italian word '
('
tincture
A tincture is typically an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol (ethyl alcohol). Solvent concentrations of 25–60% are common, but may run as high as 90%.Groot Handboek Geneeskrachtige Planten by Geert Verhelst In chemistr ...
').
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured ...
from Patras' wineries is the most common alcoholic base for tentura, though sometimes
rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...
or
grain alcohol are used as well. The fermented essences of
cloves,
cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, biscuits, b ...
,
nutmeg, and
citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes.
''Citrus'' is nativ ...
fruits are the most common flavoring agents. These aromatic ingredients give tentura its distinctive dark orange-red color and its alternative local name (, ). It has an alcohol content of around 25% by volume.
It is most often served chilled or over ice in a small glass after a large meal as a
digestif.
It is also added to
espresso
Espresso (, ) is a concentrated form of coffee produced by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans. Originating in Italy, espresso has become one of the most popular coffee-brewing methods worldwide. It is cha ...
coffee, which is then called ''
espresso corretto''. It is also served at room temperature.
References
Patras
Greek liqueurs
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