Or, tsikoudia - or raki – (on Crete!) Nip some Raki, and 'rinse' your mouth with some water from the other glas. On such nights, the raki gathering becomes a kind of group therapy session in which a friend shares his or her troubles, you offer your own wisdom in return and everyone takes an occasional break from the intensity for a wider discussion on the meaning of life. (Where a European or North American will sip wine with a meal, most Turks will sip rakı.) Other brands include Tekirdag, Izmir, Altinas and Efe. And now you sip. Must-tries include fava (mashed broad beans with dill), pilaki (beans in olive oil) and haydari (yogurt with garlic, mint, and spices). It's a very popular summer drink. Don’t be ashamed if you didn’t know to sip it before your first foray into rakija drinking, however. They differ in raw materials and the way they are made. Aniseed-based alcoholic beverages are produced in many countries in the Mediterrenean basin. Drinking from a glass like this actually makes it quite difficult to drink rakija as if you’re doing a shot. As much as Turks love their ayran (it goes well with kebabs), the drink isn't known for sparking soulful discussions or joyful celebrations -- let alone dancing on tables. Raki is serious business in Turkey. if you want to taste the original one, search in greek stores in california, for "raki" or "tsikoudia" or the cypriot drink "zivania" (it's the same with different name) raki … Consume Raki over enjoyable conversation with good friends during the course of a long evening. if you put ice before water you get, sometimes, a crystallized and greasy aspect but it does not change the taste. Both are distilled from leftovers of wine production, anise is the dominant flavoring ingredient, and they're most often enjoyed with meze. They have an equally strong aroma and taste… The water clouds it to a milky white appearance hence the nickname. The taste doesn’t complement traditional Greek entrees. -Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Raki, the unofficial national drink of Turkey is more than a glass of alcohol, it's an experience in itself. Even if you don't want to drink raki, order a glass and pretend. From the east to the west, the country is introduced through its people and places. For a really big event, such as a wedding or a birth, 25 people might gather round. The traditional taste of Yeni Rakı. After these courses appear, a waiter will ask if you want to open a bottle. Or maybe it's a way of life. Fish is the best meal to eat with it however if your appetite is not that big, a plate of mezes on the table to share between everyone is the next best choice. If you're celebrating, six to eight people might surround the raki table. Different occasions call for different kinds of raki company. Thirsty Turks sip 60 million liters of rakı each year, mostly with meals. A raki table typically gathers around 7 p.m. and disperses sometimes long after midnight, with diners eating all the while. When toasting, be sure to do so with the bottom of the glasses clinking. Appetizers: The best appetizer with raki is white cheese and melon. ... Today it is made from a variety of fruits, like figs, and is typically served with mezze and makes an especially good complement to fish, feta and cold hors d'oeuvres. Most cafe owners in Greece will admit that the best ouzo comes from Lesvos, also known as Mytilini, and they probably carry one of the more popular commercial brands like Mini or Plomari. Sip by Sip: Raki should not be taken all at once like taquilla. What does rakia taste like? Have a bite of cheese and melon, then a sip of raki with a toast to everyone's health. A group of first-timers should ask for a 35-centiliter bottle -- one-third of a liter -- and tell the waiter you each want a tek (4cl), about one shot. Raki has a subtle taste of aniseed and it can be tempting to drink the whole bottle but before you knock back glass after glass, be aware that the alcohol content is 40%. According to custom, the drinker than fills the glass with water and ice according to their taste. Like pod people, my very closest friends and neighbors always encourage me to try the Underberg's, share a glass of raki, order the shaved fennel salad, and try the hipster Danish licorice. Well, actually, anise is one of the main ingredients in various dishes all over the world. With meals, Greeks drink either wine, beer, or soft drinks, and always, bottled table water. Traditional but not staid: a raki-fueled night often ends with people dancing on tables and chairs. The production of raki is lost in the depths of time, but it is said that it started in the 14th century on Mount Athos by monks who lived there. Rakia tastes similar to Italian grappa or Japanese sake. That is soda, sour mix and gin and a cherry. Pernod is a brand NAME of the green, aromatic anise licorice-flavored liqueur, originally from France. Find out more…. The most common fruit is grapes but it can be also done with plums, figs, apricots, pears and other fruits. The right way to consume raki is to first a sip of raki then a bite of some appetizer or ordeauves. It's an old, all-purpose, prescription-free medicine for healing the heart and soothing the mind. It is a fruit brandy made from fermented and distilled fruits. Traditional Arak or Raki serving tips. Gin and tonic is the most popular, garnished with a lime wedge. It is wise to follow the same procedure at home. A Rough Start Often, the things I ended up liking best in life, I at first didn’t really like … alcoholic drink that is popular in Turkey and the Baltic region Friends gather around a cilingir sofrasi -- the so-called "locksmith's table.". The tradition says that is a medicine for... every pain! I always thought the 'Turkish way' of drinking Raki is like this: One glas of pure Raki (sometimes with ice), another glas of cooled water (preferably with ice). They are also different in taste and flavor. One of the loveliest raki traditions is to knock your glass lightly on the table after toasting in remembrance of someone you wish were present. It is actually a commonly asked query, which many people may not know the answer to. Over the years it spread to various areas of Greece, mainly in Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly and Crete. As I said before you don't have to like it, and really you don't have to drink it necessarily! Nonetheless, you're unlikely to find it in a pharmacy. All three of ouzo, arak and the Turkish raki are distilled from the leftovers of vinication — grape seeds, stems, skins and the like. It is the best gift to taste and live the Turkish tradition together. And so you should: getting drunk at the raki table, wobbling out of the tavern at the end of the night, is frowned upon. But they are not the same. Do you also wonder what does anise taste like? When I did it like this in a restaurant in Kas two weeks ago, the waiter was watching me with open mouth. An unspecified number of glasses after -- but some time before the table-top dancing -- talk almost inevitably turns to politics. It's a digestive drink, although in some tavernas they serve as aperitif drink. But, like many worthwhile pleasures, it needs a little finesse. The last 15 years most people prefer to drink raki with honey that contains 17%- 30% alcohol. Raki has a subtle taste of aniseed and it can be tempting to drink the whole bottle but before you knock back glass after glass, be aware that the alcohol content is 40%. You can find only at Istanbul Airport. A fasil ekibi (traditional Turkish band) provides additional spirit at a raki gathering. Meze, tapas-like Turkish appetizers, are raki's perfect culinary companions --- you can graze on them all night. Of course you don't have to like it, necessarily. Tsipouro! You also can make martinis with them. All these alcoholic beverages look alike and complement a delicious array of appetizers. Feta and melons are the first meze to appear at a raki gathering. Raki(i) on the other hand is made with pomace, which is- quite simply- the stuff that is left over after wine is made. You will see menu for Raki cocktails in most sophisticated bars and a few nightclubs. Arak, sometimes spelled araq from the Arabic, is a distilled alcoholic drink favored in the Middle East. After pouring the raki in the kadeh (highball glass), the waiter will ask if you want water and ice. The taste is like the Italian Grappa. Yeni Raki is the most popular brand and this has been in production since 1944. That mesmerizing aniseed smell might seem strange at first, but it soon becomes pleasurable. Beverages developed as substitutes, similar in taste but lower in alcohol content and without wormwood, are known by such names as Pernod, anis (or anisette), pastis, ouzo, or raki. It begins with the gentle subjects of work and daily life. As well as ordering glasses, Raki is available in four sizes of bottles 20cl, 35cl, 70cl and 100cl. The difference between drinking chilled and room temperature rakı is something like the contrast between drinking from a mountain spring and having a glass of warm tap water. The nickname for Raki is lion’s milk because it is traditionally drunk with water and ice. Whether celebration or commiseration spurred the raki gathering, the conversation follows a typical trajectory. Learn about traditions, cultures and destinations on our tours of Turkey. It is to be consumed sip by sip. Visitors to Turkey often wonder what that milky stuff in narrow glasses is and leave without a taste. Raki is also very often drunk in the Balkan countries. It's the go-to spirit for celebrating a promotion or a birthday or for muting the pain of a job loss or the end of a relationship. Raki, Rakia or Rakija is a popular alcoholic drink across Balkans and Eastern Europe. Next the warm dishes (sicaklar) arrive, including borek (phyllo pastry parcels filled with cheese), arnavut cigeri (fried liver) and karides guvec (shrimp cooked with butter). It tastes like the Greek equivalent of Ouzo and is widely consumed in Turkey despite high price increases over the last few years. However, you can't just drink Lion's Milk anywhere, at any time, with anyone. There is certain etiquette to drinking it though. Raki comes from Turkey and served as inspiration for many anise-liquors, including ouzo. Olive oil and yogurt appetizers from the Turkish cuisine are also good with raki. If you want to try some Turkish customs and traditions, an easy induction is to drink a glass of Raki, the unofficial national alcoholic drink of Turkey. Ouzo: Greece's Most Popular Drink Ouzo drinking is an art. It is the only alcoholic beverage which has developed its own food culture. Tom Collins is another but not as popular. As much as Raki should be drunk with water, some clever Turkish executives hit upon the idea of Raki cocktails so they could cash in on the popularity. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all. Raki. You drink it in special glasses, 4/5 raki, 1/5 water and ice. On the other hand, grape rakia rarely has a specific taste. The food serves in part to dampen the effect of the strong spirit -- raki is about 45% alcohol. Raki is not for everyone, though. Raki is always consumed with chilled water -- although some raki drinkers say ice diminishes the flavor of the drink. And unlike the undiluted sambuca, both ouzo and arak are usually served with water, thereby creating a gently refreshing, food friendly drink that is quite at odds with the ouzo shooters so common in North America. Raki, in fact, is the stuff of politics itself. Meet raki -- otherwise known as Lion's Milk -- the Turkish national drink made of twice-distilled grapes and aniseed. The tradition says that is a medicine for... every pain! Although main dishes of meat and fish may follow, the first mezes to appear at the table are feta cheese (beyaz beynir) and melons. Like the healing wisdom, the good conversation and the raki itself, everything on the table is meant to be shared. RAKI | A Different Kind of Drink, must taste! Sometimes the taste of the fruit from which it was made prevails (for example, pear rakia, quince rakia, or apricot rakia all have a distinctive fruity scent). The venue might still be a tavern, but in this case somewhere such as Asmali Cavit or Yakup, where music plays only lightly in the background and conversation is the focus. You never know, it might become your favourite tipple. Raki is always served with chilled water. Ayran isn't in the Turkish bloodstream the way raki is. Of course you don't have to like it, necessarily. There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. Some people might take offense if you drink anything else at a raki gathering. Arak has a particularly high alcohol content, anywhere from 80 to 126 proof, so water (typically 1/3 Arak and 2/3 water) and ice are almost always added to dilute it. Such discussions explain why the raki table is often called cilingir sofrasi, which literally translates as locksmith's table. Seasoned raki drinkers often have a double (8cl). People often find pleasure in drinking beverages especially wines, beers, and the likes since each has its signature taste and exotic tang. Copyright 2012 to 2020 @ Turkey Travel Centre . Raki is the common denominator of Turkish culture, enjoyed by Turks almost no matter what gender, age or social class (and notwithstanding that most Turks are at least nominally Muslim). raki is a copy of a greek alcoholic drink, that muslim turks, copied from the greeks when they came from central asia. There is an entire culture around this strong, anise-flavored liqueur that is very popular throughout Turkey. We drink it when we go out to dinner. Whatever it is, the island of Lesvos is known for it's ouzo. is also associated with hospitality and good company. Raki is made from distilled grape juice, not from seed, they add a bit of "anis étoilé". The last 15 years most people prefer to drink raki with honey that contains 17%- 30% alcohol. It's a digestive drink, although in some tavernas they serve as aperitif drink. If there is a group of friends sitting down, it is impolite to order your own glass, instead a bottle for the whole table should be ordered. The taste is like the Italian Grappa. Just like the French respect their wines and the English love their beer; Turks have an age-old tradition for drinking Raki the right way! Food P airing: It perfectly matches with different mezzes and main d ishes of Turkish cuisine. The drink is not to blame- drunk properly, it’s a clean, fresh taste of summer. In line with restrictive laws on alcohol sales, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the socially conservative Justice and Development Party. I have heard locals say that if you are suffering the next morning, drink one more glass of Raki and you will feel on top of the world; the equivalent of the western saying “hair of the dog”. Meze, tapas-like Turkish appetizers, are raki's perfect culinary companions --- you can graze on them all night. Commonly served in social settings and gatherings, the drink is famous for its potency and for the translucent milky-white color it turns when water is added to it. Nor does it tend to fuel political debate, which may well be to Erdogan's advantage. Its taste and appearance, which turns into white when mixed with water, are specific to rakı. A chilled highball glass or two of raki later, it moves on to matters of the heart. It’s very strong and has a unique taste. Similar in many respects to Grappa- Raki(i) is Greek Moonshine . Rakı (rah-KUH) is clear brandy made from grapes and raisins, flavored with pungent anise.Most is quite potent (80- to 100-proof/40% to 50% alcohol) and thus usually diluted with water and sipped with snacks or meals. Ouzo is heaven …eventually. In this case, the venue might be somewhere such as Zarifi, an Istanbul tavern where the night starts with classical Turkish music and moves on to a belly dancing show. It’s usually always offered on the house at every taverna. Some of the colored Raki has a refined taste but most of the Raki is colorless with a strong taste. Touching the top of someone's glass means you think you're better than him or her. Raki, in other words, has a mysterious power to open up even the most reserved person. By Kayla Webley Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. It represents the 200-year-old Beykoz glass decoration tradition proudly. Soon a huge tray of cold mezes, a mix of fish and vegetable dishes, will arrive. It is usually transparent or light yellow. ''The best accompaniment to Raki is good conversation.'' Pastis also turns cloudy white when mixed with water, and anis turns to a cloudy, greenish-tinged white. But, you just have to taste a little bit. Rakia, rakija or Raki (Greek: Ρακί) (/ ˈ r ɑː k i ə, ˈ r æ-, r ə ˈ k iː ə /), is the collective term for fruit spirits (or fruit brandy) popular in the Balkans.The alcohol content of rakia is normally 40% ABV, but home-produced rakia can be stronger (typically 50%). Arak or Raki is traditionally served pure: serve it on room temperature in a shot glass. Many such watering holes feature a fasil ekibi, a band of male musicians who play traditional tunes on instruments such as the ney (a reed flute), a saz or a kanun (both string instruments). It’s known as a social sipping aperitif here in Greece, but some people like to drink a little more than just the “normal” few small shot glasses after dinner. All these variables depend upon unspoken codes and are highly dependent upon one another. When in Greece, do sample top-notch island brews (rely on local knowledge to steer you right) or widely available Plomari and Ouzo Mini, which are on store shelves everywhere. At least try one glass of the national drink while you are in Turkey. It is an exceptional herb that improves the flavor of any meal you add it to. It would range from red wines to white, or even a simple semi dec will do. But the st… Some people love it, some hate it. But if a raki table is gathered to help heal a broken heart, it's a much more intimate scene: two to four close friends. As the ice melts, swirls of white fill the drink.