Jenever gets EU protected status
EU agriculture ministers have given jenever (Dutch gin) protected geographic status, ANP news agency reports on Monday.
This means the traditional Dutch spirit can only be distilled in the Netherlands and Belgium and in one or two German and French provinces.
Jenever, which is at least 35% proof, was first made in the Middle Ages from a combination of the medicinal juniper berry and brandy.
Today jenever is based on grain alcohol or molasses. Young jenever is the most popular spirit in the Netherlands. In 2005 170,000 hectolitres were drunk.
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