Amarula
Amarula Cream Liqueur 1 litre
€24,50
Fruit from the Marula tree, also known as the “elephant tree” and the “fertility tree” is said to have aphrodisiac properties, and is a favourite among the gentlest giant of the African big five, as elephants have a special weakness for the ripe fruit. Harvest can be challenging, as fruit is only harvested after it has fallen from the trees to the ground, and the elephants and other local wild life have eaten their share.
To taste the marula fruit it is hard to imagine the end result of Amarula Cream is silky vanilla, berry and spice flavors, as the marula fruit in its pure form is quite tart. With an acidity level 4-6 times that of an orange the ripe marula aroma is almost like ripe pears and passion fruit, with flavors that are quite similar and very tangy.
Unlike most wines and spirits, Amarula is created in two distinctly different places. Harvest and processing occurs in Limpopo where the fruit is gathered, washed then pressed and processed removing the inner stone of seeds and leaving the pulp, which is then transported to Stellenbosch where the fermentation and distillation occurs. Once processing starts the fruit is on a time crunch, as no stabilisers are used on the fruit; it is transported in this pure fruit pulp form which has been cooled and sent in temperature controlled trucks going back and forth from Limpopo to Stellenbosch, about a days drive away.
The end result creates balanced, sweet and silky flavours which are best tasted straight up or with a bit of ice, filled with chocolate, nuts and spice flavours. Unlike many cream liqueurs this starts with a wine base, making the overall flavour and finish subtle and elegant without a whisky bite on the end. Add in an amazing story of the fruit and the tie with the land, and it is the perfect pre or post-dinner spirit.