Damiana Liqueur
Damiana Liqueur is a 30% ABV (60 proof), 750mL herbal liqueur from Baja California, Mexico — the original Guaycura Licor de Damiana, made from the damiana herb (Turnera diffusa) and bottled in its unmistakable fertility-goddess bottle. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 30% (60 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Brand: Guaycura Licor de Damiana
- Base: Damiana herb — Turnera diffusa leaves and stems, infused in alcohol
- Origin: Baja California, Mexico
- Bottle: Shaped after a fertility goddess
Baja California's Herbal Original
Damiana is a small, fragrant shrub native to Mexico, and in Baja California Sur its dried leaves and stems have been infused into this golden liqueur for generations — tradition credits the Guaycura people of Baja with the original preparation, and a wedding custom holds that a mother-in-law presents the bride with a bottle. Around Los Cabos the liqueur turns up in the Damiana Margarita, and local folklore even claims the first margarita was made with damiana instead of an orange liqueur — a story told as folklore, and repeated here the same way. The goddess-shaped bottle makes it one of the most recognisable pours on any back bar. Find it on the Damiana vendor page or browse the full liqueurs collection.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Golden. Nose: Herbal sweetness with floral notes — tasters often land on chamomile-like florals. Palate: Smooth and slightly sweet, earthy-herbal from the damiana leaf. Finish: Smooth and gently sweet.
How to Enjoy
Sip it neat as a shooter or over ice, or put it to its classic Los Cabos use — swap it for the orange liqueur in a Margarita for a Damiana Margarita with a herbal, floral twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is damiana? A small shrub (Turnera diffusa) with fragrant leaves and small yellow flowers, native to Mexico and Central America. Its dried leaves and stems are infused in alcohol to make this liqueur.
What is a Damiana Margarita? A Los Cabos variation on the Margarita that uses Damiana liqueur in place of, or alongside, the usual orange liqueur, giving the drink a herbal, floral sweetness.
Why is the bottle shaped like a goddess? The bottle is modelled after a fertility goddess, a nod to damiana's long folk reputation in Baja tradition. The shape has made the bottle a keepsake long after the liqueur is finished.
Baja's golden herbal liqueur in its goddess bottle — pick up Damiana Liqueur online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
