Rakia
The rakija ( from Arabic عرق / Arak ), also Rakia, a fruit brandy that is produced by distillation of fermented fruit, and a popular drink in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, Italy and France. The alcohol content is normally 40 %, homemade rakia can be stronger (50% to 60%). Prepečenica is a double - distilled Rakjia an alcoholic strength may exceed 60%. The Turkish Raki, the Bulgarian Mastika and Ouzo is distilled again for flavoring with aniseed. The most well-known in Germany is kind of plum rakija, the plum brandy.
Rakia is considered the national drink of some South Slavic peoples and the Albanians. The most popular varieties are the Sliwowa or plum brandy ( prune ) and Grozdowa (also lozovača ) rakija from grapes. Fruits, which are also often used for the production are peaches, apricots, apples, pears, cherries, figs and quince. In Bulgaria and Serbia several fruit species of homemade rakija used in Istria and Dalmatia, especially grapes, which are locally known as trapa or grappa (similar to the Italian pomace brandy Grappa ).
Plum and grape rakia are mixed after distillation with other ingredients such as herbs, honey, sour cherries and walnuts.
Name
Albanian raki, Aromanian arichii, rakija Bosnian, Bulgarian ракия, Croatian rakija, Greek ρακί / τσίπουρο, Hungarian pálinka, macedonian ракија, Romanian rachiu / rachie, Serbian ракија / rakija, Slovak Pálenka, Slovenian žganje / šnopc, Turkish rakı.
Types of rakija
There are many types of rakija, which have different names depending on the fruit from which they are made:
Rituals and rakija
Although wine occupies the major part of the Eucharist rite in the Orthodox and Catholic churches in the region, is also rakija application in some religious rituals on the Balkan Peninsula. So a Christian Orthodox funeral visitors a piece of bread ( pogača ) and a glass of rakia is offered at the end. Here you can drink a little, after which a few drops " for the soul of the deceased " with the words "God is for her / him worry " (eg in Romanian Dumnezeu să -i primească ) drops to the ground before the rest drinks.
At weddings the bridegroom's father goes around all tables and offers guests a glass of rakija on - you drink during a joint toast to the happiness of the newlyweds. Generally, guests are greeted with a glass of rakija in southeastern Europe during visits.