Riga Black Balsam
Latvia's iconic herbal bitters, crafted to a recipe unchanged since 1752
LATVIA · LATVIJAS BALZĀMS · 500 ml / 45% vol
What it is
Riga Black Balsam (Rīgas Melnais Balzāms) is one of Europe's most distinctive spirits — a complex, dark herbal bitters produced in Riga, Latvia since 1752. The recipe, attributed to apothecary Abraham Kunze, combines 24 natural ingredients including 17 botanicals, each macerated in stages to draw out their individual character.
The balsam is aged for 30 days in oak barrels before blending with honey, caramel, and natural juices. The result is a deep, almost black spirit with layers of bitter roots, warm spice, forest berries, and a long herbal finish. Traditionally packaged in a hand-filled ceramic bottle, it remains one of the most recognisable spirits of the Baltic region.
Ingredients
Water, alcohol, sugar, honey, bilberries, raspberries, caramel colouring (E150a); botanical extracts: birch buds, wormwood, ginger root, valerian root, sweet flag root, peppermint, lemon balm, linden blossom, oak bark, St John's wort, buckbean leaves, black pepper, bitter orange peel, nutmeg, gentian root, Peruvian balsam.
The exact recipe is a protected trade secret; the above reflects publicly declared botanicals. Always check the label on your bottle for the current declared composition.
Nutrition (per 100 ml)
| Energy | ~1 058 kJ / ~252 kcal |
| Fat | 0 g |
| of which saturates | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | ~15 g |
| of which sugars | ~15 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Typical values for reference. Actual values are printed on the bottle.
Allergens & Storage
Contains: no statutory allergens declared. Contains alcohol (45% vol).
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Once opened, keep tightly sealed.
Net volume: 500 ml · Brand: Latvijas Balzāms · Product of Latvia
Best enjoyed neat, over ice, or stirred into strong black coffee — a Latvian tradition more than 270 years in the making.
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