Falernum facts for kids
Falernum (pronounced fə-LUR-nəm) is a special syrup from the Caribbean. It can be a sweet, flavored syrup with a little bit of alcohol, or it can be completely non-alcoholic. People mostly use it to make delicious tropical drinks!
Falernum tastes like a mix of ginger, lime, and almond. Sometimes it also has flavors of cloves or allspice. You can think of it as a spicier version of another syrup called orgeat syrup.
When falernum has alcohol, it's usually a small amount, and it's often mixed with rum. These versions are perfect for making cocktails, especially fun, tropical, or tiki-style drinks. You can even enjoy it by itself over ice.
Because of its sugar content, falernum is often thick. This is why some people call it "velvet falernum." It feels smooth on your tongue! Different brands of falernum can be white or a light amber color, and they can be clear or slightly see-through.
Contents
The History of Falernum
Where Did Falernum Come From?
Falernum might have started way back in the 1700s! People in places like Barbados in the Caribbean used to make it as a kind of punch. There are different ideas about how it got its name. Some people wonder if the first versions of falernum included soaking almonds in the syrup.
Early Mentions of Falernum
In 1892, a writer in a magazine called All the Year Round described falernum. This magazine was owned by Charles Dickens Jr., the son of the famous writer Charles Dickens. The writer said falernum was "a curious liqueur made from rum and lime-juice." This shows that falernum has been around for a long time!
When Did Falernum Become Popular in Drinks?
The first time falernum was mentioned in books about making drinks was around the 1930s. One company that makes falernum today says their recipe is from 1890. They even won awards for it as early as 1923!
Falernum in Fun Drinks
Falernum is a key ingredient in many exciting drinks. It adds a unique tropical flavor that makes cocktails special. Here are some popular drinks that use falernum:
- Better and Better
- Captain's Blood Cocktail
- Corn 'n Oil (from Barbados!)
- Frosty Dawn
- Key Cocktail
- Mai Tai (some versions, but not the famous Trader Vic's recipe)
- Port Antonio Cocktail
- Puka Punch
- Royal Bermuda Cocktail
- Rum Collins (some variations)
- Bermuda Rum Swizzle
- Saturn Cocktail
- White Lion
- Zombie (the original recipe by Don the Beachcomber)
- Trader Sam's Uh-Oa!
- Kevin´s breakup no.5
- Tourist n’ Sugar
- Three Dots and a Dash
