Poli Museo della Grappa

Poli Grappa Museum

Poli Distillerie

Poli Distillerie




The "rue": a carefully prepared digestif

  • Plant: Common Rue (Ruta Graveolens)
  • Plant part: stem, branch
  • Plant feauters: digestive, expectorant, stimulating, relieving flatulence, stimulates blood flow, hemostatic, bitter, exciting, highly stimulating, antispasmodic, emetic, antisteric

  • Description:
    "It's hot and dry in the third grade. It is not only spicy in taste but also bitter, stimulates digestion, dissolves, absorbs, dries efficiently and chases winds. "
    This can be read in "Herbario Nuovo" by Castor Durante, an Italian doctor of the sixteenth century, who soon confirms what has been known of the common rue since ancient times. The fact that the common rue is a good Digestif and bitters, relieving flatulance, has been always known; Less known is the magic glory that surrounds this and many other plants. Based on the cross-shaped flower of the common rue, interpreted as a divine symbol, it was assumed that the plant had inevitably the ability of devil expulsion.
    This is why the Central European population were used to lay a wreath of common rue on tombs or church altars; It was also regarded as a safe remedy for hysterical attacks, when hysteria was still regarded as a demonic attack.
    As if this were not enough, it was also used as a dangerous means for abortion, which was of interest especially in the field of judicial medicine in the past; but this pharmacological aspect, although partially confirmed, is more likely interpreted as stimulating effect on blood flow. Finally the direct abortive effect on the uterus had to reach high dosages to cause a general intoxication. This is certainly not a problem for a Grappa made of the common rue, which features only the already known digestive properties, when carefully prepared (three sprigs in one liter).  
  • Notes:
    Contraindicated in pregnancy due to increased risk of miscarriage. Avoid contact with the sun.
Common Rue (Ruta Graveolens)
  • Ingredients:
    - 3 sprigs of the common rue
    - 1 liter of Grappa
  • Preparation:
    The sprigs of the common rue are collected during the flowering season and are soaked in a liter of Grappa at room temperature. Take care to shake the Grappa gently from time to time during the entire period of maceration (about one month).
    Some months of aging will produce a fine liqueur with a pale green, almost yellow color.

    Flavored Grappas

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  • Dalmatian Iris or Sweet Iris (Iris Pallida)
  • Persian Walnut, Common Walnut (Juglans Regia)
  • Common Juniper (Juniperus Communis)
  • Bay laurel (Laurus Nobilis)
  • Aloysia Citrodora, Lemon verbena (Lippia Citriodora)
  • Chamomile (Matriarcaria Chamomilla)
  • Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)
  • Horse Mint (Mentha Longifolia)
  • Bogbean, Buckbean (Menyanthes Trifoliata)
  • Honey (Miele)
  • Black Mulberry, Blackberry (Morus Nigra)
  • Alpine Sow-thistle, Alpine Blue-sow-thistle (Mulgedium Alpinum)
  • Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans)
  • Cicely, Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis Odorata)
  • Common myrtle, Saharan myrtle (Myrtus Communis)
  • Oregano, Wild Marjoram (Origanum Vulgare)
  • Ginseng (Panax Ginseng)
  • Masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium)
  • Bladder Cherry, Chinese Lantern (Physalis Alkekengi)
  • Swiss pine, Arolla pine (Pinus Cembra)
  • Creeping Pine, Mugo Pine (Pinus Mugo Turra)
  • Mastic (Pistacia Lentiscus)
  • Common Polypody (Polypodium Vulgare)
  • Primula Odorosa (Primula Veris)
  • Wild Cherry, Sweet Cherry (Prunus Avium)
  • Cherry Laurel (Prunus Lauroceraso)
  • Blackthorn, Sloe (Prunus Spinosa)
  • Pomegranate (Punica Granatum)
  • Whitebeam or Common Whitebeam (Pyrus Aria)
  • Qiunce (Pyrus Cydonia)
  • Chinese Rhubarb, Rhubarb Root (Rheum Palmatum)
  • Blackcurrant (Ribes Nigrum)
  • Dog-Rose (Rosa Canina)
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
  • Elmleaf Blackberry or Thornless Blackberry (Rubus Fruticosus)
  • Raspberry (Rubus Idaeus)
  • Butcher's-Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus)
  • Common Rue (Ruta Graveolens)
  • Sage, Garden Sage (Salvia Officinalis)
  • Elder, Elderberry (Sambucus Nigra)