Item of the week: Maitrank

After a long post-winter period punctuated with rain, sleet and snow in April, flowers are finally blooming and the sun is shining... the ideal conditions to drink Maitrank!

Maitrank is an alcoholic appetiser from Arlon, in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. The territory used to be part of a greater Luxembourg duchy. The word "Maitrank" actually means "May drink" in Luxemburgish. Around Arlon, some people still use a Luxembourgish dialect, although they all speak French perfectly.

The drink is made of white wine from Moselle with a particular ingredient, sweet woodruff, which gives it a taste of hay honey and vanilla. It is a tiny flower with a sweet perfume. It grows in spring but the flowers are not blooming when they're picked. In fact, recipes may vary from family to family but it's always served with a slice of orange.

 
Every year, a Maitrank festival takes place in Arlon, hosted by a "Maitrank Brotherood" (Belgians have brotherhoods for every nice thing!). This year, it is organised on Saturday 21th and Sunday 22nd May. Folkloric ceremonies, contests, visits and of course a first growth Maitrank-tasting session expect visitors in the centre.