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The product
What centerbe is
The herbal liqueur of the Majella.
Centerbe (or centerba) is an emerald green herbal liqueur, made with aromatic and medicinal plants gathered in the mountains around Tocco da Casauria, above all the Morrone and the Majella. The name recalls the «hundred herbs» of the recipe.
The traditional version is very strong: the «forte» is over 70% alcohol. It is drunk in small sips as a digestif, or a few drops are used in desserts and coffee.
Territory
Where it comes from
Tocco da Casauria is a village in the province of Pescara, at the entrance to the Tremonti gorges, between the Majella and the Morrone. The surrounding mountains are rich in aromatic herbs, used for centuries in folk medicine.
From field to table
How it is made
- The herbs are gathered in the mountains when in flower.
- They are infused in alcohol, each for the right time.
- Part of the infusion is distilled, to concentrate the aromas.
- Infusions and distillates are blended, the strength adjusted, and the liqueur rests before bottling.
In the kitchen
How to use it
A liqueur to use sparingly, but very versatile.
- As a digestif after meals, in small sips
- A few drops in coffee
- To flavour desserts and creams
- Served at room temperature or slightly chilled
Tips
How to choose and store it
- Choose the strength: the «forte» is much more intense than the lighter version.
- Keep the bottle tightly closed, away from light.
- No need to refrigerate it: it is drunk at room temperature too.
- Drink it in moderation: it is a very strong liqueur.
Warning: strong centerbe has a very high alcohol content. Drink it in tiny amounts and never if you are driving.
Ordering
Where to buy it and whom to contact
Contacts checked on the official websites in October 2026: check availability and prices before ordering.
Distilleria Toro
The Tocco da Casauria distillery, born from the pharmacy of Beniamino Toro, who began making centerbe in 1817. It also makes genziana and ratafià.
- Address: Via Tiburtina Valeria km 192,440 – 65028 Tocco da Casauria (PE)
- Email: sales@liquoritoro.it
- Order online: liquoritoro.com
Gallery
Photos
Tap a photo to enlarge it.
Photo 1: a bottle of centerba, a typical Abruzzo liqueur. Credits: A7N8X (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons, resized; the menu icon is also made from it.
Tradition
History and trivia
In 1817 Beniamino Toro, apothecary of Tocco da Casauria, began preparing in his pharmacy a liqueur with herbs from the nearby mountains. It was used as a remedy, so much so that it was said to protect against epidemics.
Production was handed down through the generations of the Toro family, and the distillery is still in Tocco da Casauria, along the Via Tiburtina Valeria.
Did you know? centerbe is the strongest liqueur in the Abruzzo tradition: people once carried it with them in the mountains and on journeys.