The Legend of Nucata An Elixir of Refinement
the ancient kingdom of Dacia.
Legend has it that in the ancient kingdom of Dacia, the Sânziennes were in search of nature’s magic. On the night of the summer solstice, they gathered green walnuts and brewed an elixir blessed with healing power.
This elixir, called Nucata, healed not only the body but also the soul, bringing health, happiness and strength. The Walnut Tree, regarded as the link between our world and the afterlife, was the magical tree of the Nymphs. Nucata was then offered to the Dacian warriors to strengthen their strength and morale in battles.
Thus, the tradition of making Nucata has been handed down from generation to generation, representing a precious treasure and a journey through time.
An ancient tradition.
An authentic taste.
Eastern European walnut liqueur is an ancient tradition, although exact historical dates are rare.
Ancient Era I - IV
The Romans, with their tradition of eating nuts, brought walnuts to Dacia.
Middle Ages V - XV
The monks were preparing walnut elixirs for medicinal purposes, influencing households as well.
XVIII-XIX centuries
Recipes for walnut liqueur appeared in France and Italy; in Eastern Europe, walnut liqueur was already part of folk medicine, prized for its health benefits.
XX century
The production of walnut liqueur continued as a tradition, and in the 1900s commercial production started, with the liqueur remaining popular due to its complex flavor and digestive effect.
Eastern European walnut liqueurs are thus linked to culinary and medicinal practices handed down for centuries.
FIRST EDITION NUCATA.
In 2020, walnut-grower Lilian Florea tried a few variations of green walnut liqueur based on his mother’s old recipe, handed down from generation to generation.
He experiments with adding new spices in different doses, and by the end of 2020 he has a winning batch. This first edition of Nucata paved the way for a new chapter for the Pomul Regal brand, the nut-producing company owned by the founder.
This first edition was never produced and sold commercially, but was distributed to brand fans, friends, relatives and acquaintances, as well as in focus groups to collect feedback.
Following the results, Lilian Florea went back and modified the original recipe and reduced the sugar content as much as possible to get the taste we all know today.
2024 - Winner iwsc.
NUCATA won the GOLD medal at IWSC 2024. Nucata made history by becoming the first liqueur from Moldova to win this prestigious trophy at the world’s largest wine and spirits competition. Nucata has joined the world’s best and most appreciated drinks at this competition for innovation, creativity and taste in the world of spirits, which has been going on for over 50 years!
Thus, a traditional Moldovan drink ended up sharing the stage and winning the gold prize in competition with over 90 countries in the UK final.
The IWSC experts were impressed by the distinctive nutty flavor, subtle notes of dried fruit and peanut shells, and on the palette, notes of almonds, dark chocolate and roasted coffee were unforgettable.