How To Make Guavaberry Wine?

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How To Make Guavaberry Wine?

It’s that time of the year again when we get to taste (and enjoy) this year’s guavaberry wine! A traditional Christmas liqueur that is popular on St. Martin and an integral part of any proper Christmas festivities on the island. The secret of a good guavaberry wine or rum is to use some of the previous years’ batch in the present one…

For this recipe, you will need:

  • 1lb red or black guavaberry
  • 1lb yellow guavaberry
  • 1lb brown sugar
  • 2 x 750 ml bottles of aged white / dark rum
  • 1lb prune
  • 1lb raisins
  • 3 vanilla beans
  • 1lb sorrel
  • 1⁄2lb gingeroot
  • 3 cinnamon sticks

Directions:

  • Rinse berries under water. Pop berries open and remove the inside seeds. Rinse seeds, strain and save liquid. Put seedless berries into a large pot, but reserve ½-cup yellow and ½-cup red berries for later use. Add liquid saved from rinsing seeds into the pot and add brown sugar.
  • Boil mixture until berries are soft. The juice should be a medium syrup consistency or sticky when cool. Mash or grind berries that were saved and mix with strongest old rum available. To the cooled mixture, add prunes, raisins, vanilla beans, sorrel, ginger root and cinnamon bark. Pour into bottles, cork and wire down securely. Store in a dark place or cellar for several months. When guavaberry liqueur is fully ripened (the taste will tell), strain and re-bottle for use.
  • Pour into small shot or liquor glasses and enjoy at room temperature.

Note:

  • Be careful – guavaberries can leave a permanent stain.

SOURCES:

Photo credits: GONZALEZ Clara, “Guavaberry Licor de Arrayàn” (art.) in Spanish,  published on 04/26/2019, revised 05/30/2024, online on <https://www.cocinadominicana.com/guavaberry-licor-receta>

“Guavaberry Wine (Virgin Islands/St. Martin)” (art.), submitted by WizzyTheStick, online on 06/11/2024 on <https://www.food.com/recipe/guavaberry-wine-virgin-islands-st-martin-202105>