🥃 Rakomelo
Rakomelo is a Greek honey drink made, according to the Hellenic spirits producers' association, exclusively from tsipouro or tsikoudia sweetened with honey; minimum 20% ABV (40 proof).
Rakomelo is a Greek honey drink, something between a honeyed spirit and a liqueur. According to the Hellenic Association of Spirits Producers (SEAOP), it is made exclusively from tsipouro or tsikoudia sweetened with honey. Depending on its sugar content it may be classed as a spirit drink, a liqueur, or both.
How it is made. SEAOP says the honey flavour is enriched with aromatic herbs and spices such as cinnamon, clove and anise. After mixing, the blend rests for a short time before bottling so that aroma and taste combine. The association gives no fixed recipe beyond this.
Strength and look. The minimum strength is 20% ABV (40 proof), according to SEAOP. The colour is clear, from deep golden yellow to dark brown.
Serving and origin. It is drunk mainly in winter and is also enjoyed cold as a digestif after a meal. It is produced on Crete, on other Aegean islands and on the Greek mainland.
What the law says. In Regulation (EU) 2019/787 a liqueur has a minimum strength of 15% ABV and, in most cases, at least 100 g of sweetening products per litre.
Why this matters to you. Check the base, strength and sugar content on the label. The WHO states that there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health.
Facts
| Raw material | tsipouro or tsikoudia sweetened with honey; cinnamon, clove, anise 1 |
|---|---|
| EU category | spirit drink or liqueur, depending on sugar content 1 |
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787; liqueur — at least 15% ABV 2 |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 20% ABV 1 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Rakomelo → kind of → 🍯 Honey spirit drinks → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Tsipouro
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Greeks
- Part of
- 🍯 Honey spirit drinks
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Grappa, 🥃 Rakı, 🥃 Mamajuana, 🥃 Honey liqueur, 🥃 Krupnik, 🥃 Medovača
Frequently asked questions
What is rakomelo and how does it differ from raki?
Rakomelo is a Greek honey drink made, according to SEAOP, exclusively from tsipouro or tsikoudia sweetened with honey and flavoured with herbs and spices such as cinnamon, clove and anise. The honey is what sets it apart from plain raki or tsipouro.
What is the minimum ABV of rakomelo?
20% ABV (40 proof), according to SEAOP.
How is rakomelo served?
Mainly in winter; it is also enjoyed cold as a digestif after a meal.
Is rakomelo a spirit or a liqueur?
Depending on its sugar content it may be classed as a spirit drink, a liqueur, or both. In Regulation (EU) 2019/787 a liqueur is at least 15% ABV and, in most cases, has at least 100 g of sweetening products per litre.
Where is rakomelo made?
On Crete, on other Aegean islands and on the Greek mainland, according to SEAOP.
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.
- 🥃 Grappa — Italian grape pomace spirit with an EU geographical indication: at least 37.5% ABV (75 proof in US terms). “Invecchiata” means 12+ months in wood, “riserva” 18+.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Greeks — The people of Greece, in the south of the Balkans and on Mediterranean islands; olives grown for over 4,000 years, with olive oil, feta and wine.
Similar
🥃 Medovača · 🥃 Distilled anis · 🥃 Anis · 🥃 Poncha · 🌿 Pastis de Marseille · 🥃 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.
Sources
- SEAOP (Hellenic Association of Spirits Producers): Rakomelo — tsipouro/tsikoudia sweetened with honey, min. 20% vol., colour, serving, regions
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 33 liqueur (min. 15% vol.; sweetening products, in most cases 100 g/l)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)