Ginginha, the national drink?

Ginjinha or simply Ginja, is a liqueur made by infusing ginja berries, (sour cherries) in alcohol (aguardente is used) and adding sugar together with other ingredients such as cinnamon. This spring I was waiting patiently for the sour cherries to come out. At the end of June, I managed to buy some and I have now homemade liquor. Ginjinha is served in a shot form with a piece of the fruit in the bottom of the cup – It can be served in a chocolate glass as well. It’s a favorite liqueur of many Portuguese and a typical drink in Lisbon, Alcobaça and Óbidos. There are several Ginjinha shops downtown Lisbon. But what can I say about Eduardinho? You can only find it in this shop. A clown come out with the idea of blending everything and drink it before heading to the show. His name was Eduardo (he was known as Eduardinho). The liquor is a strange herbal mixture, similar to Jägermeister, but not quite. Well, taste it to find out, or as our greatest writer Pessoa used to say about Coca Cola: -“First, you find it strange… then, you can’t change!”

Ginjinha Sem Rival – Address: Portas de Santo Antão, 7, Lisboa – T: 00351 213468231