An herbal, saffron-infused liqueur deeply tied to the secret world of witchcraft
At the foot of the Apennine Mountains, about 30 miles northeast of Naples, is the city of Benevento. Like any other Medieval Italian city, it boasts ancient Roman architecture and breathtaking scenery. But Benevento bears, willingly, an ancient legacy—that of witchcraft—and this enchanted place might possibly be most famous for its trademark golden liqueur called Strega, Italian for “witch.”
Its long, slender bottle boldly stands out among other spirits, and the stylized lettering on the label may lead you to believe it’s a charming Old World digestivo. That is, until you get a good look at the figure on the label—a crone in a head scarf—and then you know there’s a legend in that bottle.
Strega is an herbal, saffron-infused liqueur deeply tied to the secret world of witchcraft. Witches are said to convene in Benevento to perform rituals and honor Il Noce, the sacred walnut tree. (The lower part of the logo shows witches dancing with demons around Il Noce.) According to legend, Giuseppe Alberti, son of a grocer, saved a witch from falling out of a tree in the woods. In gratitude, she gave him the recipe for an elixir, which the Alberti family began selling in 1860, perhaps as a curative or restorative. This elixir became the town’s calling card.
Did a witch really give Alberti the recipe? We’ll probably never know, but the town of Benevento embraced the magic, and so have Italians ever since. In 2010, Strega celebrated its 150th anniversary.
The color of sunshine and slightly sweet, Strega makes a great mixer and is becoming a popular ingredient in gourmet cocktails. Because of its complex flavor profile (with 70 herbs and spices, how can it be otherwise?), it’s a favorite among mixologists, but Italians also use it in desserts, sometimes just drizzling it over cake or gelato. In addition to the traditional liqueur, there’s Strega Cream, Strega Riserva (Strega aged for many years in ash barrels), and a 150th anniversary bottle.
Sip Strega straight, or enjoy one of the recipes below. Be warned, though—Strega is said to be infused with a love charm, and whomever you share it with will be bound to you in love forever.
Italian Coffee
Makes 1 cocktail
1 ounce Strega liqueur
4 ounces hot black coffee
Whipped cream for garnish
Fresh nutmeg for garnish
Combine the Strega and coffee in a large coffee mug, preferably glass. Top with whipped cream, grate nutmeg on top, and serve.
Witch Hunt
Makes 1 cocktail
1 ounce scotch
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
1/4 ounce Strega liqueur
1 ounce lemonade
1 lemon slice for garnish
Combine all ingredients, except lemon slice, in a shaker. Shake and pour over ice in a short tumbler glass. Garnish with lemon slice and serve.
Strega Sun Witch
Makes 1 cocktail
1 ounce Strega liqueur
3/4 ounce white creme de cacao
1 ounce whipping cream
3/4 ounce orange juice
Shaved chocolate for garnish
Combine all ingredients, except shaved chocolate, in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the orange slice and serve.
by Roberta Roberti
Roberta is a writer and editor living in New York City. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications and her cookbook, Vegetarian Italian: Traditions, Volume 1, was released in 2014, with volume 2 soon to follow. She is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, did her internship at The James Beard House, and had the honor of being a James Beard Scholarship recipient. Find out more about her here:
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