🥃 Charanda
Mexican sugarcane spirit from the Uruapan area (Michoacán), close to rum but with its own protected name since 2003: fermented cane juice or derivatives, 35–55% ABV, blanco, dorado, reposado, añejo.
Charanda is a Mexican sugarcane spirit, close to rum in taste and raw material but legally a separate drink. It is made from fermented sugarcane juice (guarapo) or its derivatives: melado, piloncillo or molasses. It is made in the state of Michoacán around the city of Uruapan, and since 2003 the name has had the status of a Mexican appellation of origin. The standard sets the strength at 35 to 55% ABV.
Protection. The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) published the declaration of the name "Charanda" on 27 August 2003, at the request of the Uruapan Charanda producers' association. The zone covers 16 municipalities in central Michoacán, 8,606 km², at altitudes of roughly 1,600 to 3,842 m above sea level, on volcanic plateaus.
Production. The NOM-144-SCFI-2000 standard sets the technical requirements. The wash ferments with yeasts, some of them selected from the juice itself; the first distillation may be done in column or batch stills, and the final one only in batch pot stills. Blending spirits without distillation ("cold") is forbidden, and bottling is allowed only within the zone.
Categories. The standard recognises four types: blanco is colourless; dorado, or oro, is a blend with aged spirits or sweetened; reposado is aged at least 2 months in oak vessels of up to 5,000 L; añejo is aged at least 12 months in oak barrels of up to 300 L.
Why this matters to you. The name "Charanda" on the label means the spirit was made in Michoacán to the Mexican standard, and the word añejo guarantees a year in oak. It is a strong drink, and one serving contains a lot of ethanol. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Raw material | sugarcane juice (guarapo) or melado, piloncillo, molasses |
|---|---|
| Distillation method | first distillation in a column or batch still; the final one only in batch pot stills |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 35–55% ABV |
| Minimum maturation | reposado — 2 months (oak up to 5,000 L); añejo — 12 months (oak up to 300 L) |
| Legal basis | NOM-144-SCFI-2000 (DOF 14.02.2001); IMPI appellation declaration, DOF 27.08.2003 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Charanda → kind of → 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Mexicans
- Part of
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Latin America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Rum, 🥃 Rhum agricole, 🥃 Cachaça, 🌵 Mezcal, 🥃 Clairin, 🥃 Guaro
Frequently asked questions
Is charanda a type of rum?
In taste and raw material it is close to rum, but legally it is a separate Mexican spirit with its own appellation of origin and the NOM-144-SCFI-2000 standard.
What is charanda made from?
From fermented sugarcane juice (guarapo) or its derivatives: melado, piloncillo or molasses, grown in the appellation zone.
Where is charanda made?
In 16 municipalities of central Michoacán around Uruapan; the zone covers 8,606 km².
What is the ABV of charanda?
By the standard, 35 to 55% ABV for all four categories.
How does añejo charanda differ from reposado?
Reposado matures at least 2 months in oak vessels of up to 5,000 L; añejo matures at least 12 months in barrels of up to 300 L.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Rum — A distillate of sugar-cane molasses, syrup or juice: in the EU at least 37.5% ABV, no flavourings or added alcohol, up to 20 g/l of sugar; in the US bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) or more.
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses — Raw materials of rum, cachaça and other cane spirits: cane juice or molasses; rum made from them is at least 37.5% ABV in the EU.
- 🌍 Latin America — A region from Mexico to the south of South America: about 9% of the world's milk, dulce de leche and fresh cheeses, Argentine and Chilean wines, olives.
- 🌵 Mezcal — Mezcal is a Mexican distillate of 100% agave of any species, 35–55% ABV. Plain mezcal, artesanal and ancestral differ in oven, mill and still, not in age. Appellation of origin since 1994.
Similar
🥃 Domači rum · 🥃 Cachaça · 🥃 Cuban rum (Cuba) · 🥃 Jamaica Rum · 🥃 Demerara Rum · 🥃 Bacanora
⚠️ 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
- DOF 27.08.2003 — Declaratoria general de protección de la denominación de origen Charanda (IMPI; Asociación de Productores de Charanda, Uruapan; 16 municipalities of central Michoacán, 8,606 km², 1,600–3,842 m a.s.l.)
- NOM-144-SCFI-2000, Bebidas alcohólicas — Charanda — Especificaciones (DOF 14.02.2001): definition (guarapo, melado, piloncillo, melaza; rectification in batch stills), categories blanco, dorado/oro, reposado (≥ 2 months, oak ≤ 5,000 L), añejo (≥ 12 months, oak ≤ 300 L), 35–55 % alc. vol.; bottling inside the zone; no cold blending
- Secretaría de Economía (PLATIICA): Charanda — evaluación de la conformidad (definition, NOM-144-SCFI-2000, denominación de origen 27.08.2003)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)