🥃 Kümmel
Category 23 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787: ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin flavoured with caraway (Carum carvi), at least 30% vol. Kümmel is the other legal name.
Kümmel is the caraway spirit, and in EU law it is the caraway-flavoured spirit drink, category 23 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/787: a spirit drink produced by flavouring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with caraway (Carum carvi). The minimum strength is 30% vol. Other flavouring substances or preparations may be added, but the taste of caraway must predominate.
EU rules. Regulation 110/2008 already defined caraway-flavoured spirit drinks with a minimum of 30% vol.; Regulation 2019/787 added the name “Kümmel” to the category title. The neighbouring category 24, akvavit or aquavit, is stricter: at least 37.5% vol., flavour largely from distillates of caraway or dill seeds, essential oils prohibited and dry extract up to 1.5 g per 100 ml. A liqueur (category 33) needs at least 15% vol. and, as a rule, at least 100 g of sugar per litre.
Protected names. The EU register holds three Kümmel names, all from Germany and all with an EU protection date of 12 June 1989: Berliner Kümmel, Hamburger Kümmel and Münchener Kümmel. Annex III to Regulation 110/2008 listed them under liqueurs.
Why it matters to you. The word “Kümmel” on a label means only that caraway is the predominant taste and that the strength is at least 30% vol.; sugar content and strength depend on the brand. Regulation 1924/2006 bans health claims on drinks above 1.2% vol. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| EU category | 23 — caraway-flavoured spirit drink or Kümmel |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 30% vol. |
| Raw material | ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin flavoured with caraway (Carum carvi); other flavourings allowed, caraway taste predominant |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, point 23 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Kümmel → kind of → 🌱 Caraway spirits and aquavit → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Related to
- 🥃 Bols, 🌍 Central Europe
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Dutch
- Part of
- 🌱 Caraway spirits and aquavit
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Aquavit, 🥃 Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink, 🍸 Liqueurs, 🥃 Goldwasser
Frequently asked questions
What is Kümmel, and what does the label guarantee?
Only that it is a spirit drink flavoured with caraway, with caraway as the predominant taste and a strength of at least 30% vol. (EU category 23); sugar and strength depend on the brand.
How is Kümmel different from aquavit?
A caraway spirit (cat. 23) is any spirit flavoured with caraway at 30% vol. or more; aquavit (cat. 24) must have at least 37.5% vol. and take its flavour largely from caraway or dill distillates, without essential oils.
Is Kümmel a liqueur?
Not by its own category: a liqueur (cat. 33) needs at least 15% vol. and, as a rule, 100 g of sugar per litre. The sweet Kümmels with a geographical indication were registered under liqueurs.
Which Kümmels have geographical indications?
The German Berliner Kümmel, Hamburger Kümmel and Münchener Kümmel, all with an EU protection date of 12 June 1989.
Does Kümmel really aid digestion?
No such claim is allowed: health claims on drinks above 1.2% vol. are banned in the EU; it is a spirit drink of at least 30% vol.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌍 Central Europe — Curd cheese (quark), cheeses and butter in peasant cooking.
- 🥃 Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink — Category 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787: spirit of agricultural origin flavoured with anise, star anise or fennel; the taste of anise predominates; from 15% ABV.
- 🥃 Bols — Bols is a Dutch brand of liqueurs and genever; its traditional founding date is 1575 in Amsterdam, with close ties to the VOC; made by the company Lucas Bols. EU liqueurs start at 15% ABV.
- 🥃 Goldwasser — Spiced herbal liqueur from Gdańsk with gold leaf; according to its producer, the Der Lachs factory dates to about 1598 and the Goldwasser to 1606.
Similar
🥃 Aquavit · 🍸 Berenburg · 🍸 Juniper-flavoured spirit drink · 🥃 Mastika · 🥃 Topinambur · 🥃 Patxaran
⚠️ 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.
What it includes
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: category 23 caraway-flavoured spirit drink or Kümmel; category 24 akvavit or aquavit; category 33 liqueur
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 on spirit drinks (OJ L 39, 13.2.2008), Annex II category 23 and Annex III (32. Liqueur: Berliner Kümmel, Hamburger Kümmel, Münchener Kümmel)
- eAmbrosia: Berliner Kümmel, PGI-DE-02049 (EUGI00000014153)
- eAmbrosia: Hamburger Kümmel, PGI-DE-01972 (EUGI00000014134)
- eAmbrosia: Münchener Kümmel, PGI-DE-01992 (EUGI00000014173)
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims, Art. 4(3): no health claims on beverages over 1.2 % vol.
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)