Pharmacy Story: Raeapteek in Estonia & Claret Wine Recipe

Signage of the town hall pharmacy in Tallinn

Discovering Raeapteek: Tallinn’s Medieval Pharmacy and the Legacy of the Burchart Family

In the summer of 2022, while spending several weeks in August on residency in Narva, I took a short trip across Estonia to revisit Tallinn. Wandering through the cobbled streets of the Old Town, I found myself once again standing before one of the most curious places I encountered during that season — Raeapteek, the oldest operating pharmacy in Europe.

The German Roots: The Burchart Dynasty

While Raeapteek is a treasure of Estonian history, its story is deeply intertwined with the German-speaking world. The earliest records name Johann Molner, a German apothecary, as running the pharmacy in the early 15th century. However, the pharmacy’s most famous chapter begins in 1582 when the Burchart family, a German-Livonian medical dynasty, took over.

For 329 years and ten generations, the Burcharts ran Raeapteek, shaping it into a hub of healing and learning in Tallinn. They weren’t just pharmacists but also city doctors, advisors, and scholars. Inside Raeapteek, you can still find portraits and records from this influential family, reminding visitors of their lasting legacy.

Stories from the Burcharts

The Burcharts’ story is filled with fascinating tidbits:

• Anatomy Lessons Behind the Counter: In the late 18th century, Burchart VIII transformed a room in the pharmacy into an informal lecture hall, where students and local physicians gathered for anatomy lessons and medical discussions — sometimes even dissecting specimens.

• Pharmacy for the Elite: Raeapteek served not only local residents but also Russian nobles, Baltic German aristocrats, and wealthy merchants. Payments often came in exotic goods such as spices, wine, or artworks rather than just coins.

• A Private Medical Library: The Burcharts collected a rich library of medical texts from across Europe, many of which are now preserved in Tallinn’s museums.

• Medieval Medicine in a Glass: The famous spiced claret wine sold at Raeapteek today is based on a 16th-century medicinal recipe preserved by the Burcharts — a warming tonic infused with cinnamon, cloves, and honey.

  
  

  

  Inside the townhall pharmacy

Stepping into Raeapteek feels less like entering a pharmacy and more like crossing a threshold into the 15th century. Nestled in the Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), this historic pharmacy has served the people of Tallinn since at least 1422 — and likely even earlier. For over 600 years, it's been a place of healing, experimentation, and quiet mystery. Raeapteek was established and run for centuries by a German-speaking medical family, most notably the Burcharts — a dynasty of apothecaries that served Tallinn from 1582 to 1911.

I remember walking through its arched doorway into the dim, wood-shelved interior, where ancient jars and herbal remedies sit alongside modern medicine. In the back room, small museum displays showcase the bizarre and fascinating medical practices of the past — everything from dried hedgehog powder to mummy dust was once part of the apothecary’s inventory.

On display in the window were vibrant red and blue liquids — not potions, but symbolic references to medieval "humoral theory."

• The red fluid represented blood,

• and the blue stood for phlegm. Back in the day, these color codes helped communicate the nature of remedies to a largely illiterate public. Medicine wasn’t just science — it was symbolism, myth, and ritual.

Red and Blue Liquids in Raeapteek

Me reading about the herbal book in store

While exploring the ancient Raeapteek pharmacy in Tallinn, I couldn’t help but notice the rows of mysterious red and blue liquids lining the windows. At first glance, they might look like medieval potions or vintage elixirs — but there’s actually a fascinating historical meaning behind them.

In medieval times, pharmacists often displayed brightly colored liquids in their windows, not just for decoration but as a visual code. Since many people couldn’t read or write, these colors helped customers identify the function or type of remedy available inside.

🔴 Red liquids symbolized blood – often linked to treatments for circulation or fever.

🔵 Blue (or greenish-blue) liquids represented phlegm (mucus) – connected to cooling remedies or treatments for respiratory issues.

Making a prayer position with the medieval monk

This color symbolism was rooted in the ancient theory of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Pharmacists and physicians believed that balancing these bodily fluids was key to restoring health — and color-coded jars served as quick visual cues for both the healer and the patient.

Today, Raeapteek keeps this tradition alive by displaying these colorful jars in their original style — a small but powerful reminder of how medicine, science, and symbolism were once deeply intertwined.

Old vaselin packaging from the shop

Claret wine sold at Raeapteek in Tallinn

I even bought their spiced claret wine, a sweet, medieval-style tonic infused with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. It was believed to warm the blood and lift the spirits — and on that warm August afternoon, it certainly did.

🧪 Medieval Claret Wine Recipe (Inspired by Raeapteek, Tallinn)

Ingredients (for ~750 ml)

750 ml red wine (dry or semi-dry works best)

1–2 tbsp raw or brown sugar (adjust to taste)

Spice mix:

1 cinnamon stick

4–6 cloves

½ tsp grated ginger (or fresh sliced ginger)

½ tsp galangal (optional but authentic)

¼ tsp nutmeg

A few saffron threads (optional, for color & aroma)

¼ tsp coriander seeds (crushed)

Why Raeapteek Matters Today

Visiting Raeapteek today is more than just a step back in time. It’s a glimpse into a world where medicine, culture, and community were deeply connected. The pharmacy still serves customers, bridging centuries of tradition with modern life.

Reflecting on my visit during my residency, I was struck by how places like Raeapteek keep history alive — not as dusty relics, but as vibrant, living spaces where stories and science continue to mingle.

If you’re ever in Tallinn, don’t miss the chance to experience Raeapteek for yourself. Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of medieval curiosities, or just curious about the roots of modern medicine, it’s a journey well worth taking.