Goldwasser

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This article is about the alcoholic beverage. For the computer scientist, see Shafi Goldwasser.

Danziger Goldwasser is the registered tradename of a strong (40%) root and herbal liqueur which has been produced since at least 1598 in Danzig (Gdańsk).

The most prominent characteristic of this alcoholic beverage is small flakes of 22 karat gold suspended in it (thus gold water). Alchemy, which was at its high point in the 16th century when Goldwasser appeared, believed gold to have many desirable medical properties. Since the flakes are extremely small and thin, the price is not prohibitive. When used as food additive, Gold is labelled as E175 (List of food additives, Codex Alimentarius)

The drink was invented by a Dutchman from De Lier, Ambrosius Vermöllen, who became a citizen of Danzig on 6 July 1598. Production moved in 1704 to new premises located in the Breitgasse. At that time it was common for houses to use animal symbols instead of numbers, and the new factory featured a salmon (German: Lachs) on the facade; hence the naming of the brand de:Der Lachs zu Danzig.

Danzig was separated from Germany after World War I, and in 1922 the Der Lachs company opened an additional factory in Berlin to supply West Germany and international markets with their products Danziger Goldwasser and Krambambuli from there. After 1945, only the Berlin factory continued to produce genuine Danziger Goldwasser.

Various Polish brands from Gdańsk sell similar drinks called Gdańska Złotówka (Gdańsk gold) or Złota Woda (Gold water).

Legend has it that when King Sigismund II Augustus visited Danzig in 1549 after his coronation, part of the city's homage to the monarch was a gift of Goldwasser, and he is said to have sung the praises of the golden drink often along the rest of his tour.

Another brand of Goldwasser, Schwabacher Goldwasser, and other sorts of food embellished with gold, are produced in the city of Schwabach near Nuremberg.

Goldwasser is used to flavour a traditional Soufflé Rothschild.