If you have ever visited the Balkans, you will almost certainly have come across Rakia in some form or other. But how do you drink Rakia – and what on earth is it?
What is Rakia?
Rakia is a spirt made from fruit – similar to brandy. The fruit used varies depending on the region where it’s made. When in Albania we saw a lot of Raki made from grapes, whereas the Serbian version mostly comes from plums. There are all sorts of flavours for you to work your way through!
Regular Rakia bought in shops and most restaurants is around 40% ABV. However, the homemade stuff can reach an eye watering 90%, so take it easy! It is said that it’s best to consume this fiery drink in the mountains. The idea being that the fresh air can take care of the hangover.
How does Rakia taste?
The first time we tasted Rakia, it seemed similar to Japanese Sake. The different fruits used can affect the flavour – the apricot Rakia was particularly fruity. But the grape Rakia tended to taste more generic.
The initial taste is of strong alcohol but then the taste of fruit comes through after, thank goodness! Being a strong spirit, there is a pleasant warmth to the aftertaste.
How to drink Rakia – Where is Rakia popular?
Rakia is consumed right across the Balkans, including Turkey and Greece. For most of these countries, Rakia is their most popular drink. In Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia it is officially their national drink and something of great pride.
How to Drink Rakia the Balkan Way – Annual Rakia drinking competition in Serbia
The drink is so beloved in Serbia that there is an annual Rakia drinking competition. It is held every year in a rural part of the country in the village of Pranjani. Teams of 4 have 15 minutes to knock back a litre of the hard stuff before attempting a series of physical challenges. Judges look for speed and agility but also take into account the merriment of the team as a whole. All this plays out to a backdrop of traditional music and beautiful Balkan scenery. Do you fancy your chances?
The origin of Rakia
The exact origin of Rakia is hotly disputed. Rakia distillation equipment was found in Bulgaria and dated back to the 11th century. It is thought that Bulgarian soldiers drank Rakia before going to battle with the invading Ottomans. An Ottoman military commander Lala Şahin Pasha stated, “Sofia was defended by tough men with moustaches, who drank Rakia before the fight and thus became invincible.”
However, the world Rakia is of Arabic origin and some think it may have come from Asia centuries ago.
How Rakia is made
Many villagers across the Balkans make their own Rakia. Fruits are harvested in the autumn and collected in the large drums to allow it to ferment. Fermentation takes between 20 and 40 days, depending on the fruit used and outside temperature.
The distillation process is the fun part! Two large tanks are need. The fermented fruit is put in the first tank which is tightly sealed. The second tank is empty and connected to the first with an oddly shaped pipe. The fruit in the first tank is boiled. As the fruit mix heats up, the vapour travels through the pipe and into the second tank to cool down. And here we have a crude form of Rakia.
The final step is ageing. The liquid is bottled or barrelled and left open to breathe for around 20 days. This allows the poor quality alcohol to evaporate. Et voila, we have Rakia!
How to drink Rakia?
Rakia is usually served in small glasses but it is not to be consumed as a shot. It is supposed to be sipped, savoured and enjoyed in a social setting. When drinking in company, each round is started with a clink of glasses and a shout of cheers in the appropriate language – Nazdráve in Bulgarian. You must make eye contact with every group member before you drink rakia.
Rakia is mostly used as an aperitif and can be enjoyed with salads and pickles
How to drink Rakia – Weddings and funerals
Newlyweds are toasted with Rakia on their wedding day. This is typically initiated by the groom’s father as he moves around the room engaging with every guest. What a long night!
Many across the Balkans are Orthodox Christian and Rakia plays a part in the burial ritual. Some Rakia is spilt on the floor, “For the peaceful rest of the soul” before the rest of the glass is polished off.
An amusing story involving Rakia
I’d like to share a Rakia story involving my unsuspecting friend. During his time in the British Army he was on tour in Bosnia. This was after the war in the 90s and his regiment was deployed to disarm parts of the country. Based in Sarajevo he was removing mines and going from house to house removing weapons. He was amazed at how friendly and chatty locals were and recalls one particular house visit.
He and his colleagues were greeted warmly by an elderly couple in a small, cosy dwelling. They welcomed them and thanked them for all of their work. The nature of the job required them to go in and out of the house frequently. Every time my friend walked through the door, he was given what he called, “a wee juice”.
After several “wee juices” he realised that he might have to decline the next offering. Fortunately, this was the last stop of the day and he managed to sleep it off on the way back to the base.
The moral of the story is, enjoy the fruity goodness in good company and in moderation!
How to drink Rakia – Rakia Cocktails
Don’t fancy the sound of Rakia straight up? Why not try it in a cocktail? This Pomegranate Lemon Rakia Cocktail is one of our faves because it’s really fruity and refreshing. It’s also really easy to make.
Here’s what you will need –
- 2 oz of rakia
- 2 oz of pomegranate juice (100% juice)
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 1 cup of lemon or lime soda
- lemon slices
- mint leaves can be used for decoration
What to do –
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes
- Add 1 shot of rakia
- Add 1 cup of soda (sugar free options work too).
- Pour the pomegranate juice over the drink
- Mix once
- Add a slice of lemon and mint leaves to decorate the drink
- Serve immediately
What next?
Inspired by Balkan food and drink? You might want to take a look at our recipe for making delicious BOSNIAN COFFEE
Maybe you’re thinking of travelling to the Balkans? Check out our Balkan FAQs page for loads of information on the area.
How do you drink Rakia? Have you tried Rakia at home or in the Balkans? Let us know by dropping a comment in the box. We would love to hear from you!
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Yes definitely try the Pomegranate Lemon Rakia Cocktail! My fave so far is the plum, nice and sweet!
Love this post! Actually nursing a tuica hangover at the moment, haha! I like the cocktail recipe, I will have to try that since drinking it straight is very harsh for me. What fruit flavor have you liked best?
No, me neither! I think it’s an acquired taste and definitely worth a try!
I think you can assume the rakia will be plentiful 😂 Have an amazing time!
I would not have thought to pair a fruity brandy type drink with pickles. I’ll have to try that at home.
I’ve never heard of Rakia – so thank you for telling me about the process of how it’s made! We’re hoping to go to the Balkans for a wedding soon so I would assume that we’d have it there haha. Great post!
Yes, Turkey also has a version. I certainly won’t be taking part in the Rakia drinking competition any time soon! 😀
Haha, that is a whole other level!
Hahaha, yes that sounds about right!
Small quantities are recommended!
You’re very welcome. Make sure you try some rakia next time, it’s delicious!
Hehe, yes the people of the Balkans are very hospitable!
Yes, that Pomegranate Lemon Rakia Cocktail is delicious!
Not everyone remembers trying rakia! 😀
Yes, definitely try it when you get the chance!
Rakia in the mountains, what a perfect day!
The annual Rakia drinking competition must be very fun to watch! I think, have tried Raki in Turkey before, if I remember correctly 🙂
The first time I tried rakia was in Sofia, on a bar crawl. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, only 40%, but I don’t think I can join any rakia drinking competition any time soon 😆
I think I had this! It was given to us as the traditional local drink in Croatia or one of the other countries in that region. I remember it being like rocket fuel!
I just made an apple brandy-based cocktail for our small Thanksgiving, so this sounds right up my alley, in small quantities of course. Great post!
This is so interesting. I’ve been to Croatia and Bosnia, but didn’t have a chance to try Rakia. It’s funny how nearly every country has some kind of distilled liquor from a local fruit. This reminds me of Calvados in France. It sounds similar, but made from apples. Thanks for all the info.
My boyfriend and I travelled around Albania last summer and every single guest house owner we encountered offered us a glass of raki as soon we arrived 😉
Wow what a very informative and interesting background story on rakia I never heard of it before. I also like that you included the recipe.
I remember trying rakia…. I am not very good with alcohol, so it was way too strong for me, but I can definitely see the appeal! It is very warming 🙂
I’ve not heard of this, i’d love to try it!
hehe great post, I enjoyed reading it and also learned a few new facts about Rakija! We drink it in Slovenia when we go to the mountains too, or at the end of the meal, to digest 🙂
Rakia sounds very potent – 90%. I’d like to try it.