creme de violette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “creme de violette” mean?
A liqueur made from violet flowers, used as a flavouring or colouring agent in cocktails.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A liqueur made from violet flowers, used as a flavouring or colouring agent in cocktails.
A sweet, aromatic, purple liqueur with a distinct floral, perfumed flavour derived from violet petals. It is a key component in classic cocktails like the Aviation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a borrowed French term used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Sophisticated, niche, associated with high-end or classic cocktail bars.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, familiar primarily to bartenders, mixologists, and cocktail enthusiasts.
Grammar
How to Use “creme de violette” in a Sentence
[verb] + crème de violette: 'add a dash of crème de violette'[adjective] + crème de violette: 'authentic crème de violette'crème de violette + [verb]: 'crème de violette provides a floral note'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “creme de violette” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The crème de violette note was too dominant.
- A crème de violette-based cocktail.
American English
- The crème de violette flavour was very floral.
- A crème de violette-forward drink.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the beverage industry, specifically in product descriptions for spirits and liqueurs.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or cultural studies of food and drink.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only used when discussing specific cocktail recipes.
Technical
Standard term in mixology and bartending guides for a specific ingredient.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “creme de violette”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “creme de violette”
- Misspelling: 'cream de violet', 'creme de violet'.
- Incorrect gender/article in French phrases: 'la crème de violette'.
- Assuming it is a dairy product.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Crème de violette is an alcoholic liqueur, while violet syrup is a non-alcoholic sweetener.
It has a strong, sweet, floral flavour reminiscent of perfume or candied violets.
In cocktails, it is difficult to replicate exactly. Some recipes suggest using a tiny amount of blue curaçao for colour and simple syrup for sweetness, but the floral note will be missing.
Because it is a niche ingredient that can be hard to find, and some modern palates find its floral profile too strong or perfumed.
A liqueur made from violet flowers, used as a flavouring or colouring agent in cocktails.
Creme de violette is usually formal / technical in register.
Creme de violette: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɛm də ˌvaɪəˈlɛt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɛm də ˌvaɪəˈlɛt/ or /ˌkrem də ˌvaɪəˈlɛt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Crème' (cream-like liqueur) 'de' (of) 'Violette' (violet) = a creamy liqueur from violet flowers.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUEUR IS A PERFUME (e.g., 'It adds a perfumed note to the drink').
Practice
Quiz
What is crème de violette primarily used for?