It continued the production of Riga Black Balsam even after Latvia declared its independence in 1918. For the first six months after bottling the flavour of Black Balsam will to develop as the ingredients interact with the clay. Riga Black Balsam is had on its own or added to coffee, hot chocolate, desserts, syrups, chocolate ganache or traditionally over ice cream. According to tradition, only the Head Liquor Master and two of his apprentices know the exact recipe.

Riga Black Balsam Classic - Legendary recipe since 1752 Riga Black Balsam Classic - Legendary recipe since 1752

The Riga Black Balsam was first introduced in Denmark at the end of the 18th century by merchant ships from Marstal trading with Riga. A 45 ABV solution is infused with the botanicals and aged for 30 days in oak barrels to create the Riga Black Balsam essence, which is then blended with honey, caramel, natural juices and other ingredients, and filled in clay bottles. In 1774, "to increase the health of society" Riga authorities granted the production rights of Kuzensky Balsam to carpenter Martin Roslau who "had had the opportunity to learn the composition of the said balsam from Abraham Kunze".Black Balsam Black Currant, on the other hand, is used in cocktails such as "Stairway to Heaven", whereas Black Balsam Cherry is added to Cherry Soda. In the 1970s, a 300-gram bottle of the 45-proof Riga Black Balsam with an iron stopper cost 9 Rbls10 kop "inclusive of the cost of the container", while a similar bottle with a cork stopper sealed with wax cost 10Rbls90 kop.

Riga Black Balsam | LiveRiga Riga Black Balsam | LiveRiga

Because of that, the sales of the balsam rose sharply and in some cities of the Russian Empire it was started to be consumed as a strong vodka. In either 1845 or 1847, Wolfschmidt, the biggest and best-known producer of Riga Black Balsam in the 19th century, began its operations. I would describe the taste as somewhere between shellac varnish and paint stripper or a mixture of both, but since I have drunk neither, the closest I can get to, or even imagine would be Angostura straight from the bottle, or even shoe polish.In 1752, Riga pharmacist Abraham Kunze concocted the city’s beloved Black Balsam, a bitter herbal liqueur. In 1766, a glazier from Riga, Peteris Adams, claimed to be the actual inventor of the balsam, having supposedly invented it ten years before Kunze, who was accused of taking his formula, however Riga City Council rejected Adams' application, arguing that he had come forth with the allegations only after Abraham Kunze's death. It is unknown when or how he acquired the recipe, but Leluchin was the one that transformed Kunze's 16 ABV white-coloured medicinal drink into a stronger black balsam intended for general consumption. In 1969, a joint team of specialists from Latvijas Keramika and Riga Polytechnical Institute designed the very first ceramic bottles for the balsam. To create Riga Black Balsam, these botanicals are infused in a spirit-water mix using what the brand describes as 'unique single-barrel infusion technology'.

Riga Black Balsam - Wikipedia Riga Black Balsam - Wikipedia

Martin Roslau produced it until his death in 1783, after which it was continued by his only daughter Maria Jadwiga and a year later also by her new husband Cristop Strizky. During the Latvian SSR there was a deficit of Riga Black Balsam, which became a valuable souvenir and gift that was sometimes even regifted. Among these are gentian, an herb believed to treat digestive issues, valerian, traditionally used to relieve insomnia, wormwood, fruit juice, black pepper, burnt sugar, ginger, and honey. In 1789, Semyon Leluchin, a merchant from Vyazma, obtained a patent for the balsam's production and sales. newspaper advertisement for the balsam listed its numerous purported internal and external uses at the time: healing gunshot, puncture and stab wounds by stopping bleeding, relieving pain and preventing infection, relieving and healing burns, frostbites, sprains, and erysipelas (red and white), treating swelling, tooth-, and headaches, stopping colic and labour pain, reducing menstruation bleeding, treating severe chills, painlessly healing rabid dog and poisonous reptile bites, preventing oozing from psoriasis, alleviating pain, preventing inflammation and fever from fractures, curing scurvy and ulcerative stomatitis and safeguarding against infection and contagious diseases by strengthening the heart and boosting vitality.

Shortly upon arrival, she fell very ill and Kunze was asked to step in after the empress's personal doctor proved helpless. More than 2 million bottles of Riga Black Balsam are produced each year and exported to 30 countries. You can even say that in wintertime Balsam replaces the sun; it warms your body and mind when mixed with hot blackberry juice. Especially popular in warm drinks, made of Balsam and coffee or hot blackberry juice - experiments unlimited!