Its contents may be a blend of egg yolks, aromatic spirits, sugar or honey, brandy, vanilla, and sometimes cream (or condensed milk).

According to several makers, such as Verpoorten and Bols, and the Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets, its origins can be traced back to "abacate", an alcoholic beverage of the indigenous people in Brazil, which was made with avocado.

According to the 1882 edition of the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal ('Dictionary of the Dutch Language'), it is zo genoemd als een goed smeersel voor de keel, en dus bijzonder dienstig geacht voor een advocaat, die in 't openbaar het woord moet voeren" ("so named as a good lubricant for the throat, and thus considered especially useful for a lawyer, who must speak in public").

[6][7] Jars and wide mouth bottles of thick advocaat are sold mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium, though may be available in Germany, Austria, and South Africa.

In particular the original thick variety, i.e., without albumen, is used as a waffle, pancake or poffertjes topping, as an ingredient in ice cream, custards, pastries and similar desserts, or as an apéritif or digestif.

The latter, possibly topped with whipped cream and then occasionally sprinkled with a touch of cocoa powder, is served in a very tiny bowl or small glass from which it is eaten by use of a teaspoon.