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. 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.
Cocktails with pineapple vodka
While Ananasowa (Polish Pineapple Vodka) is delicious to sip on its own, try mixing it one of these juices:
- orange juice and a splash of lime
- cranberry juice and garnish with lime
- pineapple juice
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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
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Ananasowa (Polish Pineapple Vodka)
- Yield: 1 liter 1x
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
Notes
For a variation, add the seeds scraped from 1/4 vanilla pod and 2 drops of cinnamon oil, now you have Ananasowa z Cynamonem
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Laurel
This sounds truly smaczne!
polishhousewife
Dzięki, Laurel! It’s such fun.
Carolyn Rapstine
I make pineapple vodka all the time. It’s my familiy’s favorite. But I do not add sugar. I only use fresh pineapple and whatever juice comes out of the fruit. I let it sit for 3-4 days and strain. I always keep it in the freezer.
I will try my next vodka with sugar but my family doesn’t like sweet. I also make tart cherry vodka and made tangerine vodka for Christmas this year. I only use the fresh fruit and Polish vodka.
Ac
Thanks Lois for your marvelous recipes and the stories that go with them!! Please tell me how to nuu that Great Book of Tinctures!! Do you have it for sale, perhaps? I cannot travel anywhere, any more.
polishhousewife
I have seen copies available on Amazon, and I’m currently writing my own book of tinctures (in English). Hopefully, published before the end of the year.
Allena Ruszkiewicz
What do you mean by “pantry”?
I am assuming a relatively cool spot away from sunlight?
Like inside a cabinet?
polishhousewife
Exactly right!
Klaus Harnisch
I’m not wondering about the Polish/French/Dutch/German/…. word Ananas but about the English word pineapple.
The fruit is neither an apple or looks like it nor does it grow on pine or any other trees.
Lois Britton
An excellent point, Klaus! LOL