Who we are
The history of Licóbidos is, above all, a family and local story. Our roots take us back to the man who started it all, Abílio Ferreira de Carvalho, who - in good time - created the first ginjinha recipe in a tavern located in the small, picturesque village of Sanguinhal, in the municipality of Bombarral - the historic Ginjinha do Sanguinhal!
And, be aware, this tavern and grocery store is still open two centuries later. The recipe, too, has remained untouched. You don't mess with ginja that wins!
The company, as we know it today, was founded in 1992 - with the aim of professionalising industrial and agricultural processes.
In 2011 we set about creating new facilities and launching what would become a case of deep passion for all the Portuguese: our charming and ravishing Mariquinhas. Everyone knows the name and it couldn't be more Portuguese. Let anyone who has never sung Amália Rodrigues' fado "A Casa da Mariquinhas" throw the first sour cherry!
In the image, where red naturally predominates, the filigree heart stands out, paying tribute to family connections, ancestors and our longing - for what was and what is to come!
![](https://www.ginjamariquinhas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ginja-mariquinhas-quem-somos-historia@2x-1019x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.ginjamariquinhas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ginja-mariquinhas-quem-somos-historia@2x-1019x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.ginjamariquinhas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ginja-mariquinhas-quem-somos-historia@2x-1019x1024.jpg)
70 years after his mythical great-grandfather Abílio is Bernardo Cavalheiro,
the fourth generation to keep alive the tradition of making sour cherry liqueur well, by hand and 100% naturally - because you don't mess around with serious things. Sour cherry liqueur is synonymous with Mariquinhas - simple!
Over the years, our creativity has remained in top form. We've developed special editions, a Bag in Box, a gourmet line with a hand-drawn label, sour cherry liqueur with chocolate and piri-piri... And we certainly won't stop there!
![](https://www.ginjamariquinhas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ginja-mariquinhas-quem-somos-historia@2x-1019x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.ginjamariquinhas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ginja-mariquinhas-quem-somos-historia@2x-1019x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.ginjamariquinhas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ginja-mariquinhas-quem-somos-historia@2x-1019x1024.jpg)
70 years after his mythical great-grandfather Abílio is Bernardo Cavalheiro,
the fourth generation to keep alive the tradition of making sour cherry liqueur well, by hand and 100% naturally - because you don't mess around with serious things. Sour cherry liqueur is synonymous with Mariquinhas - simple!
Over the years, our creativity has remained in top form. We've developed special editions, a Bag in Box, a gourmet line with a hand-drawn label, sour cherry liqueur with chocolate and piri-piri... And we certainly won't stop there!
Mariquinhas Experience
Our sour cherry is meant to be shared and because we love welcoming you into our home, we've opened the doors to a unique family experience.
Just visit one of our Mariquinhas Experience Shops - in Óbidos, Aveiro or Braga - to find our ginja and all the products we create from the liqueur and the fruit. We'll share the origin and history and the entire production process, so that by the end of the visit you'll feel like you're part of the family!