A sweet liqueur flavored with almonds, fruit kernels, or other aromatics, or small almond-flavored cookies served with such drinks. Popular in European cuisine.
Possibly from Arabic رَطَب (raṭab), meaning 'fresh date' or 'moist,' though the etymology is debated. The word entered English through French ratafia in the 17th century. Some scholars suggest it comes from the Latin phrase 'rata fiat' used in treaty ratification toasts.
Ratafia might be named after fresh dates, connecting this European liqueur to ancient Arabic preservation techniques! The drink was traditionally made by soaking fruit pits in alcohol, similar to how dates were preserved in spirits in medieval Middle Eastern medicine.
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