Drinks & Liqueurs
Hierbas distilleries: a look at how the liqueur is made
Anise, fennel, rosemary and camomile meet clear spirit in copper stills – when you visit a hierbas distillery, you can practically smell the island.
The short answer
Hierbas distilleries: a look at how the liqueur is made
Hierbas de Mallorca is made by macerating island herbs in anise distillate and then distilling. Many traditional producers offer factory shops with tastings; for group tours, booking in advance is usually recommended.
How hierbas is made
To make Hierbas de Mallorca, herbs such as fennel, rosemary, lemon verbena and camomile are steeped in anise distillate and left to infuse for a certain period. Depending on the producer, this is followed by a further distillation or ageing before the liqueur is bottled.
Depending on how much sugar is added, the result is one of three styles – dolces, mesclades and seques – which differ markedly in sweetness and herbal intensity.
Well-known producers with factory shops
Several traditional distilleries in the island's interior offer factory sales with an attached shop, sometimes complemented by tours of the production. For individual visits and larger groups, it makes sense to book in advance, as capacity and opening hours vary from producer to producer.
Tasting: dolces, mesclades and seques compared
In the shop you can usually try the three styles side by side. Dolces are sweet and mild, mesclades combine sweetness with herbal bitterness, while seques are dry and taste intensely of herbs.
Practical tips
- For group tours, book with the producer in advance.
- Taste all three styles side by side to find your own favourite.
- Carry bottles in your checked luggage on the flight home, as they exceed 100 ml.
- Combining it with a visit to an olive oil mill makes for a good day out in the island's interior.
Good to know
Price ranges, opening hours and airline rules change. We only give verifiable features and rough orders of magnitude – check details directly with the seller or your airline before you buy or fly.
Product knowledge
The specialities on this topic
Wine & Spirits I.G.P. Island-wide
Herbes de Mallorca
Mallorcan herbal liqueur
Herbal liqueur in the dolces, mesclades and seques styles – the island's digestif.
- Ingredients
- Anise distillate, island herbs, sugar (depending on style)
- Diet
- vegan · gluten-free · contains alcohol
- Price range
- Standard bottles in the low double digits (euros)
- Where to buy
- Weekly markets, delicatessens, distillery shops
- Flying
- Liquid over 100 ml: only in your suitcase, or buy in duty-free after security.
Last checked: August 2026
Wine & Spirits I.G.P. Island-wide
Palo de Mallorca
Bitter gentian aperitif
Dark, bittersweet aperitif made from gentian root and cinchona bark – usually served with soda.
- Ingredients
- Gentian root, cinchona bark, caramel, sugar, alcohol
- Diet
- vegan · gluten-free · contains alcohol
- Price range
- Standard bottles in the low double digits (euros)
- Where to buy
- Delicatessens, supermarkets, distillery shops
- Flying
- Like any liqueur: bottle in the suitcase, as the 100 ml limit applies to hand luggage.
Last checked: August 2026
Price ranges, opening hours and airline rules change. We only give verifiable features and rough orders of magnitude – check details directly with the seller or your airline before you buy or fly.
| Product | Hand luggage | Hold luggage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herbes de Mallorca | no | yes | Liquid over 100 ml: only in your suitcase, or buy in duty-free after security. |
| Palo de Mallorca | no | yes | Like any liqueur: bottle in the suitcase, as the 100 ml limit applies to hand luggage. |
Frequently asked questions
Can you do tastings at hierbas distilleries?
Yes, most offer factory sales with tastings.
Do you need to book in advance?
For group tours usually yes; to visit the shop itself, generally not.
What is the difference between dolces, mesclades and seques?
Dolces are sweet, mesclades combine sweetness and bitterness, and seques are dry with a strong herbal character.
More topics
-
Hierbas
A meal on Mallorca traditionally ends with a glass of ice-cold hierbas. The anise-based herbal liqueur with the protected I.G.P. label captures the flavours of the island.
-
Palo de Mallorca
Dark, bittersweet and with a hint of caramel: Palo de Mallorca is the aperitif you can order at any bar on the island – and one that is barely known outside Mallorca.
-
Visiting an olive oil mill
Between November and January the harvest is in full swing – if you visit a mill in Caimari or the Tramuntana, you can see first-hand how olives become the island's liquid gold.
Related
- By hire car into the interior Getting to distilleries away from the coast
- Hierbas as a souvenir Packing and transport for the flight home
Next steps