Queimada – a Halloween recipe

We’re risking a lot posting Queimada – a Halloween recipe that could see you burnt to a crisp. So if you do decide to give this a go… please please please be careful!!!

This drink is from Galicia and to see it prepared after sundown at any of the Gallego festivals is a sight to behold! Traditionally it is served at the Celtic New Year’s Eve (Samhain) – which coincides with Halloween. However, it is also served on the night of San Juan earlier in the year. Ah sod it – if there’s a bonfire – it’s an excuse to make queimada!

Queimada – a Halloween recipe: Ingredients

• 1 litre of Orujo (or a grape based spirit such as Grappa). Alternatively – speak to Diego or Claudia at Ya En Tu Casa (direct link to the product is HERE).
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of coffee beans
• Peel slivers from 1 lemon

Equipment needed

• A large clay pot with a ceramic inner – a cazuela is perfect for this. If you don’t have one, you can buy one HERE
• A lid big enough to entirely cover the top. No – tin foil isn’t stable enough.
• A long-handled ladle
• Fire!! A barbecue or fire pit is perfect
• Mugs or glasses for serving

Method

• Again – please please please be careful!!!
• Place your empty clay pot onto the fire
• In a separate glass or mug – mix 2 or 3 tbsp of orujo with a tbsp of sugar. Set aside
• Put the remaining orujo and sugar into your (now hot) clay pot
• Once the liquid is hot, add he coffee beans and lemon peel.
• Grab your mug with the smaller amount of oruja/sugar in it – and pour the lot into your ladle
• Set fire to the liquid inside
• Now move the ladle to the clay pot and let it ignite the liquid in there too
• Use the ladle to stir gently until the flames turn blue
• Cover with the lid
• Use the ladle to serve all your pals while it’s still hot

The Spell

Of course no witchy brew is complete without a spell – so we have included that in both Gallego and English for you.

In Gallego

Mouchos, curuxas, sapos e bruxas.

Demos, trasgos e diaños, espíritos das neboadas veigas.

Corvos, píntegas e meigas: feitizos das menciñeiras.

Podres cañotas furadas, fogar dos vermes e alimañas.

Lume das Santas Compañas, mal de ollo, negros meigallos, cheiro dos mortos, tronos e raios.

Ouveo do can, pregón da morte; fuciño do sátiro e pé do coello.

Pecadora lingua da mala muller casada cun home vello.

Averno de Satán e Belcebú, lume dos cadáveres ardentes, corpos mutilados dos indecentes,

peidos dos infernais cus, muxido da mar embravecida.

Barriga inútil da muller solteira, falar dos gatos que andan á xaneira, guedella porca da cabra mal parida.

Con este fol levantarei as chamas deste lume que asemella ao do Inferno, e fuxirán as bruxas a cabalo das súas vasoiras, índose bañar na praia das areas gordas.

¡Oíde, oíde! os ruxidos que dan as que non poden deixar de queimarse no augardente quedando así purificadas.

E cando este beberaxe baixe polas nosas gorxas, quedaremos libres dos males da nosa alma e de todo embruxamento.

Forzas do ar, terra, mar e lume, a vós fago esta chamada: se é verdade que tendes máis poder que a humana xente, eiquí e agora, facede que os espíritos dos amigos que están fóra, participen con nós desta Queimada.

In English

Owls, barn owls, toads and witches.

Demons, goblins and devils, spirits of the misty vales.

Crows, salamanders and witches, charms of the folk healer(ess).

Rotten pierced canes, home of worms and vermin.

Wisps of the Holy Company, evil eye, black witchcraft, scent of the dead, thunder and lightning.

Howl of the dog, omen of death, maws of the satyr and foot of the rabbit.

Sinful tongue of the bad woman married to an old man.

Satan and Beelzebub’s Inferno, fire of the burning corpses, mutilated bodies of the indecent ones, farts of the arses of doom, bellow of the enraged sea.

Useless belly of the unmarried woman, speech of the cats in heat, dirty turf of the wicked born goat.

With these bellows I will pump the flames of this fire which looks like that from Hell, and witches will flee, straddling their brooms, going to bathe in the beach of the thick sands.

Hear! Hear the roars of those that cannot stop burning in the firewater, becoming so purified.

And when this beverage goes down our throats, we will get free of the evil of our soul and of any charm.

Forces of air, earth, sea and fire, to you I make this call: if it’s true that you have more power than people, here and now, make the spirits of the friends who are outside take part with us in this Queimada.

Spell courtesy of Wikipedia

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business - Gandy-Draper. Born a "Norverner", she then spent most of her life "Dann Saff" before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle's loves are Alan, the internet, their three bouncing dogs, good food, and dry white wine - although not necessarily in that order.