🥃 Centerbe
Centerbe is a strong herbal liqueur from Abruzzo, Italy; the name means “hundred herbs”. Centerba Toro has been made in Tocco da Casauria since 1817; Centerba Forte is 70% ABV (140 proof), according to the producer.
Centerbe, also spelled Centerba, is a strong Italian herbal liqueur from the Abruzzo region in central Italy, in the same broad family as other herbal liqueurs. The name means “hundred herbs”. The best-known version is Centerba Toro, made by Enrico Toro Distilleria Casauria in Tocco da Casauria.
History. According to the producer, the pharmacist Beniamino Toro began making the liqueur in his pharmacy in Tocco da Casauria in 1817.
Centerba Forte. According to the producer, it is 70% ABV. It is made from alcohol, water and an infusion of aromatic herbs, with colourings E 102 and E 131; wild herbs are gathered by hand on the Maiella and Morrone mountains, together with oriental spices. The producer describes it as a bright green liquor with a dry, strong, slightly bitter taste, macerated for a long time in alcohol.
How it is drunk. The producer presents it as an after-dinner drink, enjoyed at room temperature, chilled or on ice; it is also used in cooking and cocktails.
Why it matters to you. Check the strength on the label: Centerba Forte is 70% ABV. The WHO says that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | 1817, pharmacist Beniamino Toro, Tocco da Casauria (Abruzzo), according to the producer |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Centerba Forte: alcohol, water, infusion of wild herbs of the Maiella and Morrone mountains, oriental spices |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | Centerba Forte: 70% ABV (according to the producer) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Centerbe → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Italians
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Bitter (bitter-tasting spirit drink), 🥃 Strega, 🥃 Jägermeister
Frequently asked questions
What does Centerbe mean, and what is in it?
The name means “hundred herbs”. Centerba Forte is made from alcohol, water and an infusion of aromatic herbs, with colourings E 102 and E 131; wild herbs are gathered by hand on the Maiella and Morrone mountains, together with oriental spices.
Where does Centerba Toro come from?
From Tocco da Casauria in Abruzzo. According to the producer, the pharmacist Beniamino Toro began making it there in 1817.
How strong is Centerba Forte?
70% ABV according to the producer, which is 140 proof in US terms.
What does Centerba Forte taste and look like?
The producer describes a bright green liquor with a dry, strong, slightly bitter taste, macerated for a long time in alcohol.
How is Centerba Forte drunk?
According to the producer, as an after-dinner drink at room temperature, chilled or on ice; it is also used in cooking and cocktails.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 Southern Europe — The Mediterranean south of Europe — Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses and most of the world's olive oil.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Italians — The people of Italy; their cuisine rests on wine, olive oil and cheese, and in 2025 the country made 44.4 million hectolitres of wine, the most in the world.
- 🍸 Bitter (bitter-tasting spirit drink) — Bitter is a spirit drink with a predominantly bitter taste: flavoured alcohol or distillate from 15% ABV (EU category 30). Rheinberger Kräuter (Underberg) is the best-known protected name; many bitters are legally liqueurs.
Similar
🥃 Mirto · 🥃 Limoncello · 🥃 Nocino · 🥃 Hüttentee · 🥃 Ratafia · 🥃 Goldwasser
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Liquori Toro: Storia (Beniamino Toro, pharmacist, 1817, Tocco da Casauria; Enrico Toro Distilleria Casauria)
- Liquori Toro: Centerba Forte (70% vol., ingredients, serving)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)