Akvavit

Akvavit, also known as aquavit, is a Scandinavian alcoholic beverage of typically about 40% alcohol by volume. Its name comes from aqua vitae, the Latin for "water of life".

Like vodka, it is distilled from potato or grain. It is flavoured with herbs such as caraway seeds, cumin, dill, fennel or coriander, among others. Akvavit usually has a yellowish hue, but is available in many colours, from clear to light brown.

It is usually drunk as a snaps during meals, especially during the appetizer course— along with pickled herring, crayfish or smoked fish.

Among the most important brands are Løiten's Linie from Norway, Aalborg from Denmark and Skåne and O.P Andersson from Sweden. The Linie brand is purported to be carried in oaken casks on ships, crossing the equator twice before its sale.

See also Cuisine of Denmark.

Spellings

• Norwegian: akevitt

de:Aquavit nn:Akevitt