Boza

Boza (Turkish: boza, Bulgarian: боза [ boza ], Romanian Braga ) is a slightly alcoholic, sweet and sparkling, fermented cereal beverage in the Balkans and in the north-western Turkey (Istanbul and Bursa), where it is today mainly produced from corn. It has been known since ancient times and spread across the entire Balkan Peninsula. In Bulgaria, it is part of the traditional breakfast: Baniza with Boza.

From the Turkish Boza already reported the Arab world traveler Ibn Battuta in the 14th century when he visited Central Asia. In the Ottoman Empire Boza was the favorite drink of the Janissaries. Famous Boza is a tavern in Istanbul, Vefa Bozacısı that will produce one of the best Istanbul Bozas, not least Mustafa Kemal Atatürk it cost there.

Before the arrival of the Bulgarian snack bars for candy ( Sladkarniza ) where Boza was poured in dispensers in large drinking glasses, were the Boza - street vendors are on the road every city. Since many of these street vendors were Albanians, one believes in Bulgaria, Boza was an Albanian drink.

In Bulgarian Radomir, that was one of the centers for the production of Boza in the 18th century, there is a monument in honor of Boza Hawker.

Production

Ingredients: bulgur, cinnamon, vanilla bean, water, flour, yogurt, yeast, sugar, vanilla sugar.

Ingredients on the label on the image on the right: wheat, water, sweetener cyclamate.

For the manufacture of Bulgarian Boza millet or other cereals such as wheat, rye or barley is used. The finished product contains between 0.6 and 1 % alcohol.

Boza has a brown color and a viscous consistency. The drink is very nutritious and is offered inexpensive. Older promotional poster in Bulgaria campaigned with well-nourished infants with red cheeks for Boza.