La ratafia Food and drink · Besalú, Garrotxa, Girona Ratafia is a sweet liqueur made by macerating green walnuts gathered around Saint John's Day together with lemon peel, sour cherries, red carnation, mint, grapes and spices such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon or bramble in brandy, then left out in the sun; the recipe varies from house to house and is passed down from parents to children. Deeply rooted in northern Catalonia, it holds the protected geographical indication Ratafia Catalana, which guarantees its origin and production. Besalú dedicates a fair to home producers each year during the December Puente de la Purísima long weekend, one of the most notable events along with the Feria de la Ratafia of Santa Coloma de Farners, held since 1981, and the festival of Centelles in June. maceración a partir de San Juan Photo: Yeza (CC BY-SA 4.0) What to see and do in Besalú