Wondering where the Polish word for pineapple, ananas, comes from? The scientific name (genus, species) is Ananas comosus. Ananasowa (Polish Pineapple Vodka) is the latest in my fascination with the Polish pastime of tincture making. This pineapple liqueur is going to be delicious for sipping. Even though this Polish recipe is still aging, I speak of the taste with confidence because our niece made something very similar one Christmas. Her technique was to put the vodka, sugar, and pineapple in a jar, and when the pineapple floats to the top, it’s ready to serve, it aged for only a few days, possibly a week because we sampled when we arrived for New Year’s Eve. She made it in one of those jars with a spout at the bottom, very convenient!

I’m taking inspiration from my reference The Great Book of Tinctures (if you buy via this link, Amazon send me a few cents). A book recommended by our friend, Slawek. Just a few days after we sampled his raspberry vodka, we came across the book in a bookstore in Oświęcim, the town known for Auschwitz-Birkenau. When my mother and sister visited, of course, they wanted to see the memorial and museum, but it I just couldn’t face seeing it all for a second time. So we gave them a phone, and Ed and I spent a few hours seeing the town and hanging out at the local shopping mall or galeria.

While this is not as well-known as Wisniowka, cherry vodka, it’s a lot easier to chop up a pineapple than to pit all of those cherries.

Na zdrowie!

Lois

Ananasowa (Polish Pineapple Vodka)

Author: Polish Housewife
Yield: 1 liter

Description

A wonderful pineapple liqueur

Ingredients

1 pound of fresh pineapple spears or chunks
1 liter of vodka
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup water

Instructions

Put the pineapple in jar(s) and cover with vodka, cover, store in pantry for 2 months
Strain and filter, through coffee filter or paper towel lined colander
Make a syrup of the sugar and water by heating just until the sugar dissolves, add to the pineapple vodka
Bottle