So time to try the unofficial "drink" of Portugal. Ginjinha.
Mine has been aged only a month. The best results are suppose to be at 3 months and every month thereafter...so this is rather young yet.
In Portugal, Ginjinha can be bought for 1 Euro (about $1.14) a shot.
Check out the video.
https://youtu.be/CstmsWrtm6E
It is ordered with or without (fruit) and if you order with...two of the brandy soaked cherries will be added to the bottom of your glass. After you drink the shot you eat the alcohol infused cherries. This can also be purchased in an all chocolate shot glass. To eat after the cherries.
As you can see, my Ginjinha is still very light in colour. As it ages further it takes on a deeper darker colour and the cherries themselves get quite greyish.
I decided to try mine "with".
and even helped myself afterwards with a bite of Dark Portuguese Chocolate for the full experience. Remember I told you the Dark Portuguese Chocolate was quite bitter. The Ginjinha balances that perfectly.
The taste was like a very sweet dark chocolate covered cherry cordial with a kick!
I can see why this would be the perfect after dinner shot.
The recipe is below. This makes about 2 cups. (aprox. 16 shots)
Ginjinha
1 cup tart cherries.
1 cup simple sugar syrup.
1 cup good brandy
pinch of cinnamon
Add cherries to brandy. Heat simple syrup to just before a boil and pour into glass jar over brandy and cherries. Add a pinch of cinnamon and seal jar. Shake.
Let age for at least 3 months.
And a very nice way to end our Virtual Portugal Adventure!
