Sambuca

Sambuca is an Italian colorless, clear liqueur with 38 to 42 percent alcohol by volume from Lazio. It is flavored with anise, star anise, licorice and other spices.

Whether the name " Sambuca " Sambuco derived from the Italian word for elder is controversial because it does not necessarily contain elderberry. There are other possible explanations, eg of the " Sambuco " above vessels of the Saracens, who imported from the Orient in Italy in the Middle Ages spices.

Sambuca is usually drunk as a digestif, often con la mosca, " with fly ", ie, with several, usually three, coffee beans. The beans are chewed while drinking and contrast with their bitter taste the sweetness of the liqueur. Especially outside of Italy it is customary to serve flambéed Sambuca.

A legend provides the following reason for the use of coffee beans: An old lady from Italy burned the Sambuca centuries ago for the first time, and when she tried to serve it to her family, translated three flies, attracted by the sweetness on the glass. This happened again and again when the lady serving their liqueur. Therefore, three coffee beans are served with, and thus the "flying" really dead, are the Sambuca is lit when serving, that is, the raw beans are roasted in burning Sambuca for a few seconds.