Damassine ?

Last Thursday, I near the stand of GrumpyGrapefruit detected nice looking bottles of Eau-de-vie de DAMASSINE and wondered what this is. I was told that it is a high percentage liqueur of PLUMS (Gm. = Zwetschgen), and so bought a very small bottle to try it. Now sampled it and can already say that I next time will purchase the BIG bottle !

Here is the link to the site that sells the stuff (last row):

http://www.grillette.ch/fr/angebot

Very tempted to try it out, despite the...hmmm... steep... price (85 Frs, 50 cl bottle).

Ciao

Paul

OH YUMM YUMM YUMM I love it its a spirit that originates from the Jura where the Dammassine Plum is grown and it's not an edible plum and only about 2 cm in size ..but the spirit is ....heavenly !!

It finishes off a meal as a digestive as which it is enjoyed in the Jura ( region) epecially during the time of the COCHONNAILLE ,,,as explained in this old article of yours truly

TS October 2008

Metzgete,Schlachtplatte,Cochonaille etc

Slaughter Season specialities

Some like it Hot – Some not at all . When autumn begins to turn to winter, the traditional specialities of slaughter season are more prominent to see. In Switzerland , this season is called the Metzgete (roughly translated to Butchers Delight, but it sounds nicer than Slaughter Season). Metzgete occurs between autumn and winter for two reasons; (1) it tends to fall within the natural order of an animal life cycle and (2) it is the time when fresh and smoked meats are prepared for the cold months.

Tradition throughout Switzerland (and most of Europe ), the Metzgete is a favourite season of many. Usually, the freshly prepared meats are served on a large platter (slaughter plate) where the customer can select and dine to his hearts content. The most popular types of meats available during the Metzgete are the blood wurst and liverwurst. Experienced butchers who possess a deep understanding of the tradition prepare these „sausages“. In addition, a slaughter plate may also contain Bratwurst, cutlets and ribs. Tradition states that side dishes such as sauerkraut, potatoes, elbow macaroni and cooked apples are served along with a slaughter plate.

Fresh from the Liver

Liverwurst is prepared from the liver of slaughtered swine on the same day as it is served. Contrary to it’s name, however, there is only a small amount of liver in liverwurst. Two thirds of the sausage base is made up of pork and beef. The other main ingredients are onions, cabbage, bouillon and pork grease. To prepare liverwurst, the meat and the cabbage are cooked while the liver is cooked in boiling water (blanched) for a short period of time. These ingredients are then ground into a smooth creamy substance. Spices and Herbs are then added to the creamy mixture along with sautéed onions and the bouillon. Now the complete mixture can be piped into the tubing. The raw sausage is boiled for 20 minutes at 75degrees Celsius and then immediately cooled in water. Voila – the Liverwurst is ready!!!

Delicacies made of Red Gold

Where liverwurst only contains a small amount of liver, the main ingredient in blood wurst is just as the name describes. Pork grease and onions are also part of this Metzgete speciality. To prepare blood wurst, the butcher mixes the blood with warm milk and adds onions which have been prepared with the pork grease and cooked for a few hours. Spices and herbs are added. The filled sausages are then boiled for 40 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius and then immediately cooled in cold water. Now the blood wurst will have the proper consistency.

Blut und Leberwurst

1st Method

Add 250ml (1 cup) water and 1 tbsp. oil in a large frying pan, place sausages in pan.Bring to a boil on medium heat until the water has evaporated. Fry sausages for about 20 minutes.

2nd Method

Place sausages in a pan, cover with water, bring slowly to a boil, then omit heat, cover with a lid. Then roast some sliced, floured onions until they are brown, douse with a 1⁄4 cup of water, season to taste, cook sauce for five minutes and then pour the sauce over the sausages, which you transferred before on a large plate.

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In the Jurassic region of Switzerland the COCHONAILLE is very well known and traditionally consists of nine courses, here explained on the way it is done in AJOIE.

Totché

A salty cream pie ‘Nidlechueche’

Gelée de ménage

A kind of terrine made with gelatine (Sulzli),this is eaten with bread and mustard

Bouillon

A really good soup, but very greasy, eaten with toasted bread

Boudin à la crème

Special blood wurst, from the Ajoie region, it is a bit creamier than the one in the German part of CH

Bouilli

Braised PORK (From the neck), served with beetroot and lukewarm carrot salad

Grillade

In Ajoie, the Atriaux, replace the liver sausage and are accompanied by a smoked pork bratwurst as well as in pork suet fried Roesti

Choucroute garnie

Sauerkraut with boiled potatoes, cooked bacon, cooked sausages and Schüfeli( a salted pork speciality)

Rôti

Tender pork roast with mashed potoatoes

Striflate

This are best described as a kind of Crepes, the dough is slowly put through a funnel into hot oil and then deep fried, in the Seeland and Emmental this is also known as ‘Strübli’. As the Striflate needs a lot of time to be prepared to perfection they are now often replaced with a crème brulée.

Of course a menu like this asks for a good digestive after having eaten it, the Jura specialty DAMASSINE is just THE right schnapps for this purpose, its made of a tiny species of plum that only grow locally and has a distinctive flavour. Of course a Wiliamine or Abricotine will do the trick as well:-)

©sylv08

and yu can get it here http://www.lakeland-whisky.ch/de/page/id/1 as well, and yes I am a tad biased coz this distillers is in a neighboured village,but i can really recommend them and yes their lakeland whisky is also a treat!! believe it or not,it is so good that it is usually sold out very quicklly and it's really good....can't compete of course with a product from Islay or so )

Most expensive eau-de-vie I've bought was made in Alsace from truffles. Great stuff, but FRF 400 / 37.5cl (CHF 100), and that was back in the early '90s!

But, Switzerland is a great place for artisanal eaux-de-vie, the only place better is Alsace!

Tom

Ah....just realised where the "English" word "damson" comes from!!

My grandmother always made Cumbrian damson jam - she should have branched out and started her own distillery....!

... and I think I might just join you in that. Thanks for the link! Cheers