Culture & Lifestyle • Color

Chartreuse

Chartreuse refers to a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks and to the yellow-green color named after it.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Chartreuse refers to a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks and to the yellow-green color named after it. The term can also appear in other contexts, including cocktails and dish names. In modern English, it most commonly means either the liqueur or the color.

Liqueur

Chartreuse is a French herbal liqueur traditionally produced by Carthusian monks. It dates to the early 18th century and is known for its secret recipe and high number of botanical ingredients.

Color

Chartreuse is also a color term for a vivid yellow-green shade. The color name comes from the liqueur, and dictionaries describe it as ranging between yellow-green and greenish yellow.

Culinary and cocktail uses

Chartreuse appears in cocktail culture as an ingredient in drinks such as the Last Word and in recipes that use either green or yellow Chartreuse. It is also the name of a French molded dish made with vegetables or meat wrapped in leaves.

Key facts

Chartreuse is best known as a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks.
The liqueur is produced from a secret recipe using 130 herbs, plants, and flowers.
Green Chartreuse and Yellow Chartreuse are the two main commercial versions.
The color chartreuse is a yellow-green hue named after the liqueur.
Chartreuse also appears in cocktail names and as a culinary term for a French dish.

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Canadian context

Chartreuse is familiar to Canadian readers mainly as a cocktail ingredient, a color term, and an imported French liqueur sold in Canadian liquor markets.

Frequently asked questions

What is chartreuse?

Chartreuse is a term most commonly used for a French herbal liqueur and for a yellow-green color named after that liqueur.

What is chartreuse liqueur?

Chartreuse liqueur is a French herbal spirit made by Carthusian monks from a secret recipe using 130 herbs, plants, and flowers.

What is chartreuse color?

Chartreuse color is a bright hue between yellow and green, often described as yellow-green or greenish yellow.

What is a chartreuse cocktail?

A chartreuse cocktail is any cocktail that uses Chartreuse liqueur as a key ingredient. The liqueur is common in classic and modern drinks because of its strong herbal flavor.

What is chartreuse green vs yellow?

Green Chartreuse is stronger and less sweet, while Yellow Chartreuse is milder, sweeter, and lower in alcohol. Both are based on the same monastic tradition but differ in formula and flavor profile.

What is a chartreuse substitute?

There is no close one-to-one substitute for Chartreuse because of its unique botanical profile. Bartenders sometimes approximate it with other herbal liqueurs, but the result is not the same.

References

Taste France — https://www.tastefrance.com/us/magazine/french-pantry/everything-you-need-know-about-chartreuse
Supports: Chartreuse as a French liqueur made with 130 herbs and botanicals; first produced by Carthusian monks in 1737.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_(liqueur)
Supports: Chartreuse as a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks since 1737; 130 herbs and plants; Green Chartreuse details.
National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-is-chartreuse
Supports: Chartreuse as a secret-recipe liqueur made by Carthusian monks in France.
Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/chartreuse
Supports: Chartreuse as a liqueur and as a color; definitions of both meanings.
Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chartreuse
Supports: Chartreuse as a color averaging brilliant yellow green and as a liqueur term.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_(color)
Supports: Chartreuse color as a shade between yellow and green; yellow-green / greenish yellow description.
GuildSomm — https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/virginie-boone/posts/what-you-should-know-about-chartreuse
Supports: Green and yellow Chartreuse differences; ingredients; production notes; cocktail relevance.
The Spruce Eats — https://www.thespruceeats.com/about-chartreuse-liqueur-760267
Supports: Chartreuse as an herbal liqueur; two varieties; limited substitution value.