Queimada - a Potion of Blue Fire
Galicia's famous ritualistic alcoholic punch guaranteed to purify the soul
We’re staying in Galicia for this week’s recipe because I want to share one that I’ve always wanted to try but never got around to (I don’t think).
It is a drink associated with the Celtic heritage of Galicia which conjures up images of meigas (witches), caldrons and incantations. It is a not just a drink, but a ritual performed during special occasions, the night of San Juan on the summer solstice when the dead mix with the living, and All Soul’s night (Samhain/Halloween) when we remember loves ones lost.
Today, as the grateful undead are carried around in coffins in As Neves, it’s a good time to whip up a batch of queimada. To do so, you will need to find a clay pot, a long-handled ladle and a bottle of strong orujo. Orujo is a lot like grappa – a fiery pomace brandy with a high alcohol content. Traditionally queimada was made in a hollowed- out pumpkin, but today, the wide clay pot and ladle can be found in many shops and markets around Galicia.
So what is queimada?
Queimada is a magic potion made of good spirits to ward off bad spirits and purify the soul. It is essentially a punch that consists of strong alcohol, sugar, citrus peel and coffee beans. These ingredients are combined before setting the whole thing on fire. An incantation is spoken (if a witch is not available, anyone with a high tolerance to fire and a flair for the dramatic is fine) and then the participants imbibe the potion in small ceramic cups while it is still warm.
The first sip will purify the soul, the second sip will cleanse your mind of prejudices and negative thoughts, and the third sip is said to act as an aphrodisiac – so choose your drinking companions wisely.
Things you will need to make queimada.
Please be advised that making this drink at home can be highly dangerous. I would strongly suggest it is done outside and under strict supervision. Gloves are also recommended.
Heavy fireproof pot, preferably made of clay, not pumpkin.
A long-handled ladle
1 bottle of orujo or grappa
4 tablespoons of sugar
¼ cup of coffee beans
The rind and peel of one lemon and orange
Optional: a stick of cinnamon bark and a fire extinguisher.
Place all ingredients in the pot. Scoop up some of the liquid in the ladle and carefully set it alight. Lower the ladle into the pot of queimada to light the rest of the liquid.
Add a little sugar in the ladle and heat it over the flames to caramelise. Continue mixing and lifting the ladle to allow the fiery liquid to pour from a short height. While you do this, have someone else recite the incantations. (see below)
The longer you allow the queimada to burn, the less alcohol content it will contain.
Spell to recite while making queimada.
Owls, barn owls, toads and witches.
Demons, goblins and devils, spirits of the misty vales.
Crows, salamanders and witches, charms of the folk healers.
Rotten pierced canes, home of worms and vermin.
Wisps of the Holy Company, evil eye, black witchcraft,
scent of the dead, thunder and lightning.
Howl of the dog, omen of death, maws of the satyr and foot of the rabbit.
Sinful tongue of the bad woman married to an old man.
Satan and Beelzebub's Inferno, fire of the burning corpses,
mutilated bodies of the indecent ones, farts of the asses of doom,
bellow of the enraged sea.
Useless belly of the unmarried woman, speech of the cats in heat,
dirty turf of the wicked born goat.
With these bellows I will pump the flames of this fire
which look like those from Hell, and witches will flee,
straddling their brooms, going to bathe in the beach of the thick sands.
Hear! Hear the roars of those that cannot stop burning in the firewater,
becoming so purified.
And when this beverage goes down our throats,
we will be set free of the evil of our soul and of any charm.
Forces of air, earth, sea and fire, to you I make this call:
if it's true that you have more power than people,
here and now, make the spirits of the friends who are outside,
take part with us in this Queimada.