# Pitorro > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pitorro > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pitorro.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitorro > Source revision: 1286060324 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Distilled spirit from Puerto Rico}} '''Pitorro''' is a distilled spirit from [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico), referred to as "[moonshine](/source/moonshine) [rum](/source/rum)". Pitorro is usually much stronger than commercial rum. At times its alcohol content surpasses 100 proof.{{cite web|url=http://www.speakinglatino.com/boricua-bar-a-list-of-10-alcoholic-drinks-from-puerto-rico/ |title=The Boricua Bar: 10 Alcoholic Drinks From Puerto Rico |publisher=Speakinglatino.com |date=July 16, 2012 |accessdate=November 26, 2013}} It is often homemade and a part of traditional Puerto Rican holiday celebrations, and used in [Coquito](/source/Coquito).{{fact|date=April 2023}} Other terms are '''pitrinche''' or '''pitriche''', '''cañita''' (based on the thin copper tubing of the [alembic](/source/alembic) in which it is produced), '''lágrima de monte''' (mountain tears), and '''lágrima de mangle''' ("[mangrove](/source/mangrove)'s tears" since many artisan distillers refine their product near coastal mangroves, to conceal it from police). '''Cañita''' is a common term so popular that at least two legal brands of rum have used the name, including the current brand, "Cañita Cura'o". ''Pitorro'' is an integral part of Puerto Rican culture, and musical odes to it or its production (such as the [plena](/source/plena) ''"Los Contrabandistas"'', popularized by Puerto Rican singer [Daniel Santos](/source/Daniel_Santos_(singer))) are part of local folklore. ''Pitorro'' is usually much stronger than commercial rum. At times its alcohol content surpasses the common 80- or 90-proof (40% or 45% alcohol per volume) mark. Some raids have led to confiscation of rum that is up to 80% alcohol per volume (160 proof). Recipes abound, but common practices include "curing" the distilled product by burying jugs of ''pitorro'' in the ground, as well as placing grapes, [prune](/source/prune)s, [raisins](/source/raisins), [date](/source/date_(fruit))s, [mango](/source/mango), [grapefruit](/source/grapefruit), [pineapple](/source/pineapple), [coconut](/source/coconut) and other fruits in them. Puerto Rico is known for its production of legal rum, and since it is a major revenue-generating operation, the Puerto Rican police force, as well as agents from the local ''Departamento de Hacienda'' (Treasury Department) tend to pursue moonshine producers fervently, particularly around the Christmas season. A town famous (or infamous) for its ''pitorro'' production is [Añasco](/source/A%C3%B1asco%2C_Puerto_Rico). ==See also== {{Portal|Puerto Rico}} *[List of Puerto Rican rums](/source/List_of_Puerto_Rican_rums) *[Pitorro de Coco](/source/Pitorro_de_Coco) {{clr}} ==References== {{reflist}} Category:Rum produced in Puerto Rico Category:Moonshine Category:Crime in Puerto Rico --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pitorro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitorro) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitorro?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.