Pálinka Jamy distillery: fruit pálinka in Odorheiu Secuiesc

Pálinka from the fruit of Székely Land

Odorheiu Secuiesc (Hungarian: Székelyudvarhely) is a historic town in the Târnava Mare valley in the west of Harghita County, long regarded by the Székelys as their “capital”. Around the town are hills with orchards of plums, apples, pears and cherries, and on the forest edges blackthorn, elderberry and cornelian cherry. Fruit like this has always been distilled in Transylvania into pálinka – a strong fruit spirit no celebration goes without.

The family-run Pálinka Jamy distillery in the south of town works with modern copper equipment and makes only pure fruit distillates – no sugar, no flavourings. The owners’ aim is to bring the taste of the fruit itself into the glass. Their spirits have won awards at international spirits competitions, including Destillata in Austria.

The range is wide: “base” fruits – plum, sweet cherry, Muscat and black grapes, apple, sour cherry, apricot, Williams pear, quince, blackcurrant – and forest fruits: cornelian cherry, elderberry, blackthorn, blueberry, aronia and raspberry. There is even a mandarin distillate.

Besides its own spirits, the distillery – as its website says – also distils local households’ fruit to order. This is an old Transylvanian habit: in autumn every family takes its plums or pears to the “still”, then treats guests to its own pálinka all year round.

Why go

The distillery welcomes visitors on a tour called “The path of the fruit, from the tree to the glass”. You will see how the fruit is received, sorted and crushed, how the mash ferments and how the copper still separates the “heart” of the distillate from the unwanted fractions. The owners are happy to share their experience and explain how sommeliers judge fruit spirits: colour, aroma, taste and finish.

This is a place for anyone who wants to understand pálinka rather than just knock back a shot: the difference between plum, pear and cornelian-cherry pálinka becomes obvious when you taste them side by side. Visits are by prior arrangement only, and guidance in English is available.

What to taste and buy

• Plum pálinka – the Transylvanian classic.
• Williams pear and quince – fragrant “orchard” spirits.
• Forest-fruit distillates – cornelian cherry, blackthorn, elderberry, blueberry, raspberry.
• Sour-cherry and sweet-cherry pálinka – in the distillery’s dark bottles.

Pálinka is strong (usually over 40 %), so it is sipped slowly and only by those who are not driving. You can take a bottle home – within the limits for carrying alcohol across the border.

Practical information

Address: Str. II. Rákóczi Ferenc 44, 535600 Odorheiu Secuiesc, Harghita County. About 25 km from Corund and about 50 km from Miercurea Ciuc over the pass. From Ukraine the easiest route is via the Porubne–Siret border crossing, then Suceava, the Bicaz Gorge and Gheorgheni – about 320 km in total.

Visits: by prior arrangement only – call +40 744 795 162 or e-mail [email protected]. Check times and tasting conditions by phone before you travel.

Nearby

• Galffis chocolate manufactory – bean-to-bar craft chocolate in the same town.
• Corund pottery bazaar – Székely ceramics half an hour’s drive north.
• Harghita-Mădăraș – the highest peak of the volcanic Harghita Mountains.
• The historic centre of Odorheiu Secuiesc with its fortress and churches.

Official website: palincajamy.ro

Photos: Pálinka Jamy, official website.