Blue Curacao Liqueur

History of Blue Curacao

Many people have been at a restaurant or bar and have seen the bright blue colored tropical drinks that are offered that contain Blue Curacao. They may have seen it sitting on the shelf at the bar, standing out from all the other dull colored bottles around it, or may have tried a drink that contains it as one of the ingredients. There are different brands of Blue Curacao that are available and not all are colored blue, but all have the same delicious, slightly tangy orange taste to them.

Blue Curacao Origins

 

Curacao is an island in the Caribbean that is close to the north coast of Venezuela that was used since the 1400s by the Spanish while they were trying to expand their control into South America. In the 1600s the Dutch West India company took over control of the island and created a major harbor there that was eventually know for being a center to pirates. While the Spanish were in control of the island the sweet Valencia orange was brought to Curacao, but the soil and climate there did not work out to be an ideal growing climate for the orange.

 

The Valencia then evolved into a small and bitter citrus fruit called the laraha, which became know for the strong aroma present in the peel. Its flavor was not introduced into alcoholic drinks until the 1800s. The Curacao liquor is made from the dried peels of the laraha. The peels are dried to bring out the oil and fragrance and then they are soaked in alcohol and water for a couple of days. When it is ready the peels are removed and spices are added to distill the spirit. The blue coloring is added by many producers, hence the name Blue Curacao.

 

There are many different cocktails that you can add Blue Curacao to that will give them a blue coloring and twist of flavor. Some of these drinks that Blue Curacao will complement nicely are a Blue Margarita, a Bahama Mama, and a Blue Hawaii.