WINE AND DRINKS
15/06/2012 by Natasha M
Traditional drinks from around the world
Russia
Traditional drinks from around the world
Russia
|
Kvas. It's a dark or black rye bread drink. A fizzy bread drink sometimes referred to as Russian cola, kvas literally means “leaven”. Its origins go back fifty centuries (!!!!!) to the beginnings of beer production. Kvas was first mentioned in Old Russian Chronicles in the year 989. But how the recipe was discovered and by whom remains a mystery to this day. Some people say it's a gift given to us by Gods. But some say the drink was invented by mistake. According to one legend, a bag of grain got wet and the grain started to grow.
A farmer decided to save the product and make flour out of it. He couldn’t use it to make bread and instead, invented malt. He added some water, let the liquid ferment and created the first ever kvas. Kvas has very low alcohol content (0.05 - 1.44%) and it is considered a non-alcoholic drink. The main ingredient of true kvas is as I mentioned earlier dark rye bread, and the drink can contain unfiltered yeast in it. Kvas has a high content of vitamin B, it is considered to be a good appetizer and healthy source of energy. The drink is recommended for sportsmen who are trying to increase their muscle weight. In 1913 Russian bacteriologists proved that kvas is a germicide by showing that typhus bacteria die in the drink. |
|
Kvas has been consumed in most Slavic countries (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland) as well as in ex-Soviet states since ancient times. In some countries one can still see kvas vendors on the streets. Similar beverages around the world include Malta, Chicha, Ibwatu, Pulque and Rivella. There is a famous saying "Bad kvas is better than good water."
House kvas is made with rye bread baked into sukhari (croutons), yeast and zakvaska (kvas fermentation starter). The taste depends on the proportions of these essential ingredients. There are numerous variations of the following basic recipe and every house has it's own recipe.
House kvas is made with rye bread baked into sukhari (croutons), yeast and zakvaska (kvas fermentation starter). The taste depends on the proportions of these essential ingredients. There are numerous variations of the following basic recipe and every house has it's own recipe.
|
Samogonka. Russian home made vodka called moonshine vodka. Samogonka is STRONGER than factory distilled vodka. The literal translation of the word samogonka is "made-myself". The drink makes your teeth enamel come dull, well known to clean you from inside out removing bad bacteria. Although those who drink it never admit that it usually washes away your vital internal organs, destroys your immune and nervous systems and dilutes your brain meaning if you drink it - forget you ever lived here on this plane. The color is usually similar to a moonstone, not clear vodka color, it's usually made and sold in a very suspicious places.
|
|
Japan
Jurokucha. The literal meaning of jurokucha (じゅうろくちゃ；十六茶) is 16 teas. The drink consists of a blend of leaves, grains and fruits and is considered a health drink due to its rich dietary fiber content. Green tea, or ryokucha (りょくちゃ;緑茶), is a traditional tea extracted from Camellia sinenses that is treated to attain minimal oxidation during processing in order to maintain its health enhancing properties. Green tea is so popular in Japan it is often simply referred to as 'tea' (ocha;おちゃ；お茶) or even 'Japanese tea' (nihoncha; にほんちゃ；日本茶). Green teas are graded according to quality and by which part of the plant is used. The best Japanese green teas are those that come from the Uji (うじ；宇治) region in Kyoto (きょうと；京都), although some prefer those obtained from Shizuoka Prefecture (しずおかけん；静岡県). 
|
Sake is a clear alcoholic beverage popularly produced and consumed in Japan. Sake is basically made from rice and water. It's said that water and its purity is very important to make good sake. Sake is served in tokkuri (small sake bottles) and poured into o-choko (small sake cups). It is polite to pour sake into each other's cup when you are drinking with someone. It's good to know whether your company's cup is empty or not. When someone wants to pour you more sake, you should hold your o-choko cup up. Sake can be served hot or cold. Hot sake is called atsukan, and cold sake is called hiyazake. Winter is the best time to enjoy hot sake. Legal drinking age in Japan is 20 years old. |
|
Spain
Virgin Pomegranate Sangria. This Spanish Sangira recipe is made with pomegranate juice instead of wine. Enjoy your favorite fresh fruit flavors in this cool summer drink. 
|
Sangria of course. Real stuff! Very fruity and rich tasting Spanish alcoholic drink, Sangria (Spanish: Sangría) is a wine punch typical of Spain and Portugal. It normally consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy. In the case of fruits, they are chopped or sliced such as orange, lemon, lime, apple, peach, melon, berries, pineapple, grape and mango. A sweetener such as honey, sugar, simple syrup, orange juice is added. Instead of brandy, other liquids such as Seltzer, Sprite or 7 Up may be added.
|
|
France
Citron pressé. Some say citron pressé is just a fancy French name for a simple lemonade. This is not true. Citron pressé is made to order, by the glass rather than the pitcher. Order this drink at any café in France, and the waiter will bring you a tall glass filled with ice and the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. Alongside your glass you'll receive a carafe of cold water, and one--maybe two--sugars. You adjust the water and sugar to taste. You have to sip a citron pressé, which makes the taste, and the pause, last that much longer. Try the recipe below too: Ingredients: Ice 4 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice Pitcher of chilled water Granulated sugar Preparation: Put a small amount of ice into 2 glasses Pour 2 oz lemon juice into each glass Add water and stir in sugar to taste 
|
French Cognac Hennessy is a world-leading cognac house with headquarters in Cognac, France. Today, the company of Jas Hennessy & Co. sells about 50 million bottles a year worldwide, or more than 40 percent of the world’s Cognac, making it the world's largest Cognac producer. |
|
Mexico
Mock Margarita. This alcohol-free "cocktail" looks like its tequila-laced counterpart. And it's perfect - just 58 calories per drink. Ingredients
|
|
Directions 1. If desired, rub rims of margarita glasses with lime wedge; dip rims into a shallow dish of coarse salt or sugar and shake off excess. Set aside.
2. In a blender, combine limeade concentrate, orange juice, and grapefruit juice. Cover and blend until smooth. With the blender running, gradually add ice cubes through the hole in the lid, blending until slushy. If desired, tint with a few drops of green food coloring. Pour into margarita glasses. If desired, garnish with citrus slices. Makes 8 servings.
2. In a blender, combine limeade concentrate, orange juice, and grapefruit juice. Cover and blend until smooth. With the blender running, gradually add ice cubes through the hole in the lid, blending until slushy. If desired, tint with a few drops of green food coloring. Pour into margarita glasses. If desired, garnish with citrus slices. Makes 8 servings.
|
Tequila. This drink is made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, 65 kilometres (40 mi) northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands (Los Altos) of the western Mexican state of Jalisco.
The red volcanic soil in the surrounding region is particularly well suited to the growing of the blue agave, and more than 300 million of the plants are harvested there each year. Agave tequila grows differently depending on the region. Blue agaves grown in the highlands region are larger in size and sweeter in aroma and taste. Agaves harvested in the lowlands, on the other hand, have a more herbaceous fragrance and flavor. Mexican laws state that tequila can be produced only in the state of Jalisco and limited regions. Mexico has claimed the exclusive international right to the word "tequila", threatening legal actions against manufacturers of distilled blue agave spirits in other countries. Tequila is most often made at a 38–40% alcohol content, but can be produced between 35–55% alcohol content. |
|
United States
Coca-Cola. It is a carbonated soft drink produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke (a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States since March 27, 1944). The company produces concentrate, which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers throughout the world. Based on Interbrand's best global brand 2011, Coca-Cola was the world's most valuable brand 
|
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky (which, in turn, was named after the French House of Bourbon royal family). It has been produced since the 18th century. While it may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the American South in general, and Kentucky in particular. |
|
Austria
Almdudler The original Almdudler is a sweetened carbonated beverage made of grape and apple juice concentrates flavoured with herbs. Its flavour is similar to ginger ale or elderflower cordial but with a somewhat fruitier and more bitter flavour. Almdudler has been called the "national drink of Austria". Almdudler was developed in 1957 by Erwin Klein, who derived the name from the then-common phrase auf der Alm dudeln, which means singing in the (alpine) meadows. |
|
The slogan of the Almdudler advertising campaign, in the Austro-Bavarian dialect, has become a well known phrase in Austria: Wenn de kan Oimdudla haum, geh' i wieda ham! (Standard German: Wenn die keinen Almdudler haben, gehe ich wieder heim! English: If they don’t have Almdudler, I'll go back home!) This advertising slogan was written by advertising creative legend and Englishman Simon North while in Austria.
Serbia
Coffee. In Serbia, drinking coffee or enjoying drinks with family and friends is an unavoidable daily ritual. A Serbian toast ends with words “u zdravlje” or “ziveli”, for Serbian people, quite often celebrate nothing else but good health and the very gift of life. The famous “Is the glass half empty or half full” dilemma is unknown to natives of Serbia. Thus, in the spirit of Serbian optimism and according to Serbian etiquette, the glass is always full or refilled. It has to be, since no one is “half a person”! 
|
Austrain Shnapps
Schnapps is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage. The English word schnapps is derived from the German Schnaps (plural, Schnäpse), which can refer to any strong alcoholic drink but particularly those containing at least 32% Schnaps means swallow in German; it has been documented in its High German meaning since before the 18th century 
Slivovitz or Slivovitsa is a distilled beverage made from Damson plums. It is frequently called plum brandy, and in the Balkans is part of the category of drinks called rakia. In Hungary and Slovakia it is part of the category of drinks called Pálinka (Hungary) or Palenka (Slovakia), which are essentially the same as Rakia.
|
To be continued...
Displaying page: Good Advice Magazine >> Food and Drinks >> Wine and Drinks >> 10
Wine and Drinks other articles: << 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
Wine and Drinks other articles: << 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
|
|
