Tia Maria

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Not to be confused with Tia Maria mine.
Tia Maria is a dark coffee liqueur with an alcoholic content of 20%.

Tia Maria is a dark liqueur made originally in Jamaica using Jamaican coffee beans, but now made in Italy. The main ingredients are coffee beans, Jamaican rum, vanilla, and sugar, blended to an alcoholic content of 20%.

History[]

The historical fable of its origins dates it to the 18th century. A young Spanish girl was forced to flee Jamaica, and the family plantation during a conflict. She was accompanied by a sole female servant who carried a bit of jewelry and the recipe for the family liqueur. In honor of the woman's help, the girl named the liqueur "Tia Maria" (tia is Spanish for "aunt"), her name for the woman who had helped save her life. This fable may have been part of a marketing campaign, however. In his book Jamaica Farewell,[1] Morris Cargill recounts having had the idea for developing a coffee liqueur similar to one his aunt used to make. In 1946, he had, to no avail, tried to get the original recipe from his aunt and subsequently connected with Dr Ken Evans, who then developed the recipe. They partnered with others in Jamaica (Herbert Hart, Eustace Myers of Myers Rum, and Paul Geddes of Desnoes & Geddes) to produce the first five thousand cases, with Blue Mountain coffee supplied by Keble Munn. Cargill contracted the London ad agency J.P. MacNulty to brand the product and design the labels. They spent days trying to come up with a name, until Cargill recounted the story of trying to get his aunt's original recipe and Joseph MacNulty said, "I know exactly what we'll call that damn liqueur. Aunt Mary -- Tia Maria."[1]

Another account of its history says that a man named Dr. Evans discovered the drink after World War II, and he began reproducing it. This story of Dr. Evans' devotion to the drink is part of the official website's history, however.[2] The Jamaican company Lascelles deMercado producer of Appleton Rum supposedly manufactured the concentrate from which the liqueur was made, at least, up until the time it was sold by Pernod.[3] As recently as the 1980s, Tia Maria was made with an alcohol concentration of 31.5% and positioned as a premium liqueur compared to the substantially different product now produced at 20% ABV.

The Tia Maria brand was bought by Pernod Ricard through their Malibu-Kahlúa International subsidiary in 2005.[4] It was sold to Illva Saronno It. in July 2009.[5][6] Following the sale, Chivas Brothers produced it for Saronno before production was transferred to Illva Saronno's distillery in Saronno, Italy.[7][8] Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. distributed it in the U.S. for Saronno.[9] As of Aug. 1, 2012, Kobrand became the distributor.[10][11]

Variations[]

A bottle of Tia Maria at a grocery store in Argentina

It can be consumed straight with ice but is also frequently used as an ingredient for cocktails or with coffee. It may also be mixed with milk and ice.

Some cocktails include the Tia Espresso Martini, the Dark Tia made with dark rum, the Tia Maria and cola, or the Skinny Tia White Russian made with Tia Maria, vodka, and skimmed milk. Another cocktail known as an 'Orgasm' is Tia Maria mixed in equal parts with Bailey's or another Irish Cream.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Cargill, Morris (1978). Jamaica Farewell. Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart, Inc. p. 134. ISBN 0-8184-0269-5.
  2. ^ "Tia Maria".
  3. ^ "Jamaica Gleaner". Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Beverage Underground".
  5. ^ "Drinks Daily".
  6. ^ "Beverage Business". Archived from the original on 17 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Moodie Report". 26 July 2009.
  8. ^ "About us | Tia Maria | Tia Maria".
  9. ^ "PR Newswire".
  10. ^ "Kobrand Wine & Spirits".
  11. ^ "Yahoo".

External links[]

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