BLACK VODKA: CHARACTERISTICS AND PREPARATION - NUTRITION - 2025

The black vodka is an alcoholic drink dark black color, completely dyed liquid without any transparency or discolored appearance. It was created with the mixture of vodka with catechu extract, from acacia trees.

This extract is known for its astringent properties, its tannins and colorings that do not leave stains. Its characteristics do not interfere with the taste of vodka, without delivering any added flavor or smell.

The advantage of this vodka is that it delivers color without removing the pure flavor of the authentic vodka, since the extract of the black catechu, coming from the heart of the Burmese acacia. Being colored, it gives the sensation of a different palate that is finally smooth and spicy.

Characteristics of black vodka

Black vodka was created by Mark Dornan and first appeared in 2003. Its main characteristic is a deep black color given by the Burmese herb called catechu.

However, despite this exotic blend, if you drink with your eyes closed, it tastes exactly like the best pure, authentic vodka.

It has become popular at parties and events due to its particular appearance. It is widely consumed during Halloween parties and as a base for other cocktails that want to obtain a special and different touch.

Ingredients

In this alcoholic drink, of approximately 20º alcohol, the main ingredient is the resin extract of acacia catechu, a tree native to Southeast Asia, specifically India and Myanmar, which for many centuries was used as a coloring and an ingredient. in herbal medicine.

The catechu extract is obtained by boiling the wood in water and then evaporating the liquid as a result. Its astringent properties have been used since ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine and also in mixes of spices to freshen the breath.

It is an important ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine for its vegetable tannins and its astringent effect. It has even been used to dye animal skins brown and preserve fishing nets. The catechu can also dye wool, silk and cotton a yellowish brown color.

Vodka, for its part, can be made with different types of carbohydrates. Among them we will mention potatoes, sugar, beets, wheat and corn, among many others.

History of vodka

Historically it is said that vodka appeared in the 1300s, when Genoese merchants brought it to Moscow, Russia, calling it "water of life." Then, Iván III began the official production of this clear and spirited liquor.

From the year 1700, vodka producers began to subject the liquor to two or three distillation processes to absorb the flavor of herbs and foods with which it was mixed, such as cherries, blackberries, dill, sage, among others.

Therefore, the idea of ​​flavoring a vodka with some new element is not original or modern, but comes from the first connoisseurs of this drink.

Expansion

Vodka began to spread throughout the world and came to the United States in the 1940s through the famous Moscow Mula cocktail (vodka, lemon juice, ginger ale, and ice to taste), which was made with Smirnoff vodka.

But the one who finally consolidated it was the emblematic James Bond in 1962, since every time he wanted to have a drink in a hotel or a bar he asked for a “dry Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred”. Since then, vodka has been the most famous and sold alcoholic beverage in the United States.

Making the vodka

The basic steps for making vodka are fermentation, distillation, filtration, dilution and bottling, with various distillation processes if you want to add a particular flavor to the drink.

You can use rose petals and fruits, use of glacier water and vodkas of all kinds of different colors and flavors. This alcoholic drink is ideal for making these types of mixtures, since it has practically no taste or smell.

Making black vodka

In the case of the vodka used to make black vodka, it is made from whole grains that undergo a triple distillation process.

The end result is a vodka with a deep and distinctive original flavor. The catechu mixture only provides its particular color, without altering the authentic aroma and flavor of the vodka.

The catechu extract that is added to the vodka is handmade by hand, with the technique of boiling pieces of Burmese acacia bark and then reducing them into a liquid with a unique and interesting texture and flavor.

Particular flavor

Black vodka is intriguing and mysterious. When you see a thick black liquid, you expect a new and different taste. However, one of the properties of catechu is that it does not alter the taste of the food with which it is mixed.

In this case, the black vodka retains a mild and extraordinarily pure flavor, to which is added the interesting mixture of catechu, a hand-harvested herb, which invades the transparent liquid with a dark, intense olive green; practically black.

When taking the first sip, the palate is filled with velvety and smooth flavors, followed by flavors of wheat dough and mineral notes. Finally, the flavor is concentrated in a well balanced flavor, with a pleasant texture, elements of various grains, spices and sweet sugar flavor.

Curiosities of vodka

Although it may seem incredible, vodka provides multiple benefits to our body, including improving cardiovascular health, reducing stress, and relief from dental pain and bad breath. It even helps decrease acne on the skin, disinfect wounds, and promote hair growth.

Vodka is known as an important antiseptic and anesthetic agent, and its disinfecting action in the case of wounds and acne lesions on the skin is known. An effective cleaning agent can be used for its antibacterial qualities.

One of the most relevant characteristics of vodka is that its smell and taste are almost imperceptible and can be used to combine all kinds of alcoholic beverages. This is why vodka is one of the favorite drinks around the world.

Its name explains this condition. Vodka derives from the Slavic word "Voda", which means "water".

Vodka can be considered as a useful medication if necessary, and also a lotion that can be applied to the body. Its anesthetic effects are known and it is used for the manufacture of tinctures, very useful for herbal medicine.

These benefits, together with the astringent properties of catechu, make black vodka a medicine that can be applied in emergencies. In the case of alcoholic beverages, moderation is the best advice.