Damiana Liqueur and Margaritas: A Home Infusion

TL;DR: Damiana liqueur is a sweet herbal spirit from Baja California Sur made by steeping dried damiana leaf in alcohol and sweetening it. You can make a simple version at home with dried leaf, tequila or a neutral spirit, water and sugar or honey. Steep for about a week, strain, sweeten, rest, then use it in place of orange liqueur in a margarita. For adults 21 and over only, and drink responsibly.

Where damiana liqueur comes from

Damiana, Turnera diffusa, grows wild on the dry hills of Baja California Sur. People there have brewed the leaf as tea for generations, and at some point someone started steeping it in alcohol. The result became a local specialty: a golden, sweet, herby liqueur that shows up in bars and gift shops around Los Cabos, La Paz and Todos Santos.

Local lore says the first margarita was made with damiana liqueur instead of orange liqueur. Nobody can prove where the margarita was invented, and several towns claim it, but in Baja a damiana margarita is still a standard order. If you want the botany and chemistry of the plant itself, start with What Is Damiana? Meet the Turnera diffusa Plant.

What damiana liqueur tastes like

The leaf brings a sweet, warm, slightly resinous flavor with a little bitterness at the end. Think chamomile, a touch of mint and something close to oregano or sage. Steeped in alcohol and sweetened, those notes come forward and round out. A good home batch should taste herby and honeyed, not grassy or harsh.

The flavor of the leaf matters most, so start with fresh-smelling dried leaf. Our organic damiana leaf is cut Turnera diffusa with a naturally sweet smell, and a 4 oz bag is enough for several batches.

What you need

• 15 to 20 grams of dried damiana leaf (roughly 1 cup loosely packed)
• 750 ml of 80-proof spirit: blanco tequila for a margarita base, or vodka or another neutral spirit for a cleaner herbal flavor
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar, or honey or agave syrup to taste
• A clean quart glass jar with a tight lid
• A fine strainer and a coffee filter or cheesecloth
• A clean bottle for the finished liqueur

How to make damiana liqueur at home

Step 1: Steep the leaf in the spirit

Put the dried leaf in the jar and pour the spirit over it. Close the lid, shake, and set the jar somewhere cool and dark. Shake it once a day. Taste it after 5 days. Most batches are ready between 5 and 10 days. Go longer and the bitterness starts to take over.

Step 2: Strain

Pour the spirit through a fine strainer to catch the leaf, pressing on it to get the liquid out. Then pour it again through a coffee filter or a double layer of cheesecloth to catch the fine bits. This step is slow. Let gravity do the work.

Step 3: Make the syrup

Warm the water and dissolve the sugar or honey in it. You do not need to boil it, just heat until it is clear. Let it cool to room temperature. Some people steep a small pinch of extra damiana leaf in the warm syrup for 10 minutes and strain it, which adds a softer tea note.

Step 4: Blend and rest

Stir the cooled syrup into the strained spirit a little at a time, tasting as you go. Start with half and add more until it tastes right. Bottle it and let it rest for at least a week. The flavors settle and the harsh edges fade. The finished liqueur will be around 25 to 30 percent alcohol depending on how much syrup you add.

A simple damiana margarita

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz homemade damiana liqueur
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• Salt for the rim, optional

Shake with ice and strain over fresh ice in a salt-rimmed glass. If it is too tart, add a splash more liqueur. If it is too sweet, add a little more lime. A thin lime wheel and a single damiana leaf make a nice garnish.

Other ways to use it

• Sip it neat or over one large ice cube after dinner.
• Add a half ounce to sparkling water with a squeeze of lime for a light spritz.
• Splash it into hot tea on a cold night, especially a cup of damiana tea for a doubled-up flavor.

Storage and safety

Store the bottle sealed, at room temperature, out of direct sun. Because of the alcohol and sugar, it keeps for many months. The color may darken and some fine sediment may settle. That is normal. Shake gently before pouring.

A few common sense rules. This is a drink for adults 21 and over. Do not drive after drinking. Skip it if you are pregnant or nursing. Damiana extract has shown CYP3A4 enzyme activity in lab screening, and alcohol interacts with many medications, so check with your doctor if you take any prescription drug. Stick to normal cocktail amounts. Damiana leaf contains small amounts of cyanogenic compounds, and very large amounts of any herb are a bad idea.

FAQ

Can I use tequila instead of vodka?
Yes. Blanco tequila gives a liqueur that fits naturally into a margarita. Vodka or another neutral spirit lets the damiana flavor stand out more on its own.

How long should I steep damiana in alcohol?
Start tasting at 5 days. Most batches are best between 5 and 10 days. Past two weeks the bitter notes usually get too strong.

Can I use honey instead of sugar?
Yes. Honey or agave both work and give a richer, rounder flavor. Use a bit less than you would sugar since they taste sweeter.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Adults 21+.