Alchermes (/ælˈkɜːrmiz, -mɪs/, Italian: [alˈkɛrmes]; from the Arabic: القرمز, romanized: al-qirmiz, lit. 'cochineal', from Persian: کرمست, romanized: kirmist, lit. 'bloody, red, cochineal, carmine') is a type of Italian liqueur (especially in Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Sicily) prepared by infusing neutral spirits with sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla, and other herbs and flavoring agents. Its most striking characteristic is its scarlet color, obtained by the addition of Kermes, a small scale insect from which the drink derives its name. Several proprietary variants are commercially available, where the coloring agent is a coal tar-derived dye such as E124 or E126, with alcoholic contents ranging from 21 to 32%. Its chief use is in coloring pastry, although a quick dessert is so