Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka

In Poland the practice of flavouring spirit to make Żubrówka vodka is said to date back to the 14th century. The area where this grass grows in the Bialowieza Forest bridges the borders of Poland, Ukraine and is the habitat of wild Polish Bison (known in north America as buffalo) - so, although the bison don't eat this variety of grass, the vodka has the nickname 'Bison vodka'. The grass is harvested by hand once a year in June when its flavour is richest, then dried, cut to size and bound in bunches for delivery to the distillery.

There are many other similar looking grasses that grow in the Bialowieza forest and they are easily mistaken for Hierochloe Odorata. However, when a blade of Hierochloe Odorata grass is pulled through thumb and finger it leaves a white powder on your thumb nail and it is only Hierochloe Odorata grass that does this.

Rye grain vodka is forced through the grass in a similar fashion to an espresso coffee machine, thus imparting the aromatic grass flavours to the vodka.

Sadly the Żubrówka that is sold in the USA is not flavoured with Hierochloe Odorata grass. It is instead flavoured with a synthetic flavouring as the grass imparts a chemical called Coumarin in the vodka which is not permitted in food products sold in America or Canada. Thus the flavour of the Żubrówka made for these markets differs considerably to the genuine Hierochloe Odorata grass product. Thankfully Coumarin is permitted in the European Union but limited to 10mg per litre.