Kümmel
Encyclopedia
Kümmel, also called kummel or kimmel, is a sweet, colorless liqueur
flavored with caraway
seed, cumin
, and fennel
.
Originally, the words kümmel, kummel, and kimmel are somewhat generic terms in the German
, Dutch
, and Yiddish
languages, respectively, meaning both caraway and cumin. For instance, in German caraway is called Echter Kümmel and cumin is called Kreuzkümmel, but the term Kümmel is also used for the liqueur flavored with these spices.
According to the Dutch
, kümmel liqueur was first distilled in Holland during the late 16th century by Lucas Bols
. It was then taken to Germany
and Russia
; the latter is now the principal producer and consumer of kümmel.
The Berlin
-made Gilka Kümmel goes through a longer distillation process and has a smoother taste than the Russian kümmels, and it has become the accepted standard of kümmel quality for the past century.
In the UK, it is a popular drink at many of the more traditional golf clubs.
, which is however set in Germany.
SS officer Kaempffer downs a glass after a frightening incident in The Keep (novel) by F. Paul Wilson.
In a Simenon's novel, Jules Maigret drinks kummel with his hostess while investigating a murder ("Maigret se fâche"). He doesn't like it and even despises it.
Kummel is consumed in large quantities(mainly in golf clubs) across Europe and notably the UK with suppliers main focus in Scotland where its marketed as an after dinner liqueur. The smoothness and the natural release of jubilation involved in consumption has led to some golfers using it to enhance their golf game by taking a couple of mouthfuls before a round to relax first tee nerves. Some may even indulge in a streak or bullet which are a mix of kummel and vodka or gin respectively endorsed by top selling brand Wolfschmidt. The latter are normally reserved for the golfers with high anxiety on the first tee or those who have been duly fined for pre set out reasons in the annual Kummel Invitational held twice a year at The Nairn Golf Club and once at a specially selected 'away tour' course.
The Kummel consumption has seen a drastic increase across the whole of the UK since Angus Smithsons brainchild came to fruition and has flourished year on year. He even received an OBE for his services to the drink industry by creating a sporting event that was always promoted within the spirit of the game.
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
flavored with caraway
Caraway
Caraway also known as meridian fennel, or Persian cumin is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to western Asia, Europe and Northern Africa....
seed, cumin
Cumin
Cumin is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to India. Its seeds are used in the cuisines of many different cultures, in both whole and ground form.-Etymology:...
, and fennel
Fennel
Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
.
Originally, the words kümmel, kummel, and kimmel are somewhat generic terms in the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, and Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
languages, respectively, meaning both caraway and cumin. For instance, in German caraway is called Echter Kümmel and cumin is called Kreuzkümmel, but the term Kümmel is also used for the liqueur flavored with these spices.
According to the Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, kümmel liqueur was first distilled in Holland during the late 16th century by Lucas Bols
Lucas Bols
Lucas Bols is a privately held Dutch company in the business of production, distribution, sales and marketing of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest Dutch company still active and the oldest distillery brand in the world. Its brand portfolio consists of Bols, Galliano, Vaccari, Pisang Ambon,...
. It was then taken to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
; the latter is now the principal producer and consumer of kümmel.
The Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
-made Gilka Kümmel goes through a longer distillation process and has a smoother taste than the Russian kümmels, and it has become the accepted standard of kümmel quality for the past century.
In the UK, it is a popular drink at many of the more traditional golf clubs.
In popular culture
A principal character drinks Gilka in the French film Water Drops on Burning RocksWater Drops on Burning Rocks
Gouttes d'eau sur pierres brûlantes is a 2000 French drama film directed by François Ozon. The film is based on a German play by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Tropfen auf heisse Steine.-Act 1:...
, which is however set in Germany.
SS officer Kaempffer downs a glass after a frightening incident in The Keep (novel) by F. Paul Wilson.
In a Simenon's novel, Jules Maigret drinks kummel with his hostess while investigating a murder ("Maigret se fâche"). He doesn't like it and even despises it.
Kummel is consumed in large quantities(mainly in golf clubs) across Europe and notably the UK with suppliers main focus in Scotland where its marketed as an after dinner liqueur. The smoothness and the natural release of jubilation involved in consumption has led to some golfers using it to enhance their golf game by taking a couple of mouthfuls before a round to relax first tee nerves. Some may even indulge in a streak or bullet which are a mix of kummel and vodka or gin respectively endorsed by top selling brand Wolfschmidt. The latter are normally reserved for the golfers with high anxiety on the first tee or those who have been duly fined for pre set out reasons in the annual Kummel Invitational held twice a year at The Nairn Golf Club and once at a specially selected 'away tour' course.
The Kummel consumption has seen a drastic increase across the whole of the UK since Angus Smithsons brainchild came to fruition and has flourished year on year. He even received an OBE for his services to the drink industry by creating a sporting event that was always promoted within the spirit of the game.