Poitín facts for kids
| Type | A strong, traditional Irish drink |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Alcohol by volume | Very strong |
| Colour | Colourless |
Poitín (pronounced "pot-cheen") is a very old and strong traditional Irish drink. It's also known as "poteen." In the past, people sometimes called it "Mountain Dew" or "Mountain Tea." The name "poitín" comes from the Irish word pota, which means "pot." This is because it was traditionally made in a small pot-shaped still. Today, poitín can only be made from certain ingredients like grains, potatoes, sugar beet, or molasses.
Contents
Poitín's Journey: From Illegal to Legal
For a long time, making poitín was against the law in Ireland. In 1556, a rule was made that said you needed a special license to make any spirits. This meant that most poitín makers were operating secretly.
Today, things are different! You can find some types of poitín sold legally in Ireland. In 2008, the European Union recognized Irish poitín as a special product from Ireland, just like Irish whiskey. This means it has a "Geographical Indication" status.
In 2015, the Irish government set up clear rules for how "Irish Poitín" must be made. These rules cover what ingredients can be used, how it should be distilled, and if any flavors can be added. This helps make sure that legal poitín is made in a traditional way.
Even with these new rules, some people still think of poitín as something that should be made secretly. However, the legal versions are now available and follow strict guidelines.
How Poitín Was Traditionally Made
Historically, poitín was often made in quiet, faraway places to avoid being caught by the law. Makers would create a liquid mixture called a "wash" and let it ferment. Then, they would use a still to heat this mixture and collect the strong spirit.
Sometimes, stills were set up right on the edges of land boundaries. This way, if police found them, it would be hard to prove who owned the still! Before bottled gas, peat (a type of fuel from the ground) was used to heat the still. Smoke from the fire could give away the location, so distillers often chose windy or stormy weather to help hide the smoke.
The traditional way to make poitín involved using malted barley, similar to how some Irish whiskeys are made. The small copper pot still was very important to the process. Over time, some makers started using other ingredients like treacle, corn, or potatoes because they were cheaper or easier to find.
The quality of poitín could vary a lot. It depended on how skilled the maker was and how good their equipment was. Makers who produced excellent poitín became very well-known.
Poitín in Irish Stories and Songs
Poitín has appeared in many Irish poems, books, and plays over the years. Writers like Maria Edgeworth and William Carlton wrote about how making poitín was against the law.
In modern plays by Martin McDonagh, characters often talk about or drink poitín. It even appears in the book The Lake of Souls from the Saga of Darren Shan series, where a character makes his own. Frank McCourt also mentions it in his book 'Tis.
Many traditional Irish folk songs also tell stories about poitín. Songs like The Hills of Connemara and The Rare Old Mountain Dew are famous examples. Another song, The Hackler from Grouse Hall, tells the story of a police sergeant chasing an old man who loved making poitín in the 1880s.
See also
In Spanish: Poitín para niños
