Țuică (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈt͡sujkə]; sometimes spelled tuica, tzuika, tsuika, tsuica, or tzuica) is a traditional Romanian spirit that contains 28%-60% alcohol by volume (usually 40-45%), prepared only from plums. Other spirits that are produced from some other fruit or from a cereal grain are called "rachiu" or "rachie."

Traditionally, țuică is prepared from early October until early December (after winemaking is complete). The process must generally be finished before Christmas, as not to leave unfinished business for the next year. If using plums, they must be left for fermentation (macerare) for 6–8 weeks, in large barrels (butoaie or căldări).

According to both tradition and Romanian standards (SR) distillation must be done in a brass still (cazan, pictures at [1]), using a traditional fire source (generally wood, but also of charcoal).

The temperature is controlled traditionally by interpreting the sounds that the still makes and by tasting the brew at different points in the process. Usually, this process results in three grades of țuică:

  • very strong - distilled twice, generally a quarter of the production, and the first to come out of the still; about 55-60% alcohol by volume, being stronger than palinka; called fățată or întoarsă depending on the regions; the most famous țuică being served before meal; in rural regions, it is habit to serve a guest with this drink.
  • normal (known as 'vodcă' after Russian vodka) - the last to come from the still; between 20-30% alcohol;

After distillation, țuică may be left to age between six months and ten years in oak aging barrels (the result is pearlescent yellow, has a strong aroma, and is known as "old țuică", țuică bătrână), or it may be consumed immediately ("new țuică", țuică proaspătă). The people preparing țuică are sometimes referred to as țuicari, căzănari, cazangii, but this varies depending on geographical regions. Mixed with water, țuică should never turn white or opaque.

Most țuică is moonshine, prepared using traditional methods both for private consumption and for sale. Although this is illegal, the government tolerates the practice due to the traditional character of the beverage. Most țuică is sold in markets and fairs, and at roadsides, bottled in unlabeled PET bottles. Some communities have acquired production licences and produce it legally.

A famous type is "țuică cu fruct." This is a glass bottle of țuică containing a whole fruit (usually an apple or a pear). It is obtained by hanging empty bottles on trees in spring or early summer and growing the fruit inside the bottle.

The generic term "țuică" comprises plum brandies (jinars, horincă, cocârț, tura) and other fruit brandies. A specific nomenclature was created for țuică, comprising varieties such as old, selected, superior, etc.

A simple classification of types of țuică is :

  • țuică = a generic term for an alcoholic beverage distilled from fruit
  • palincă = double-distilled plum brandy (the term "palincă" (for "strong țuică") is not accepted in the official nomenclature published by ASRO.
  • horincă = double-distilled plum brandy
  • fățată = the strongest kind, double-distilled (similar to horincă and palincă)
  • frunte = the very first țuică that comes out of the still during the distillation process; it has a unique taste and different strength than the rest