Great Article On Macadonia Rakia Tradition

There is a great article that covers the role of Rakia in Macedonia culture that I had discovered recently in my own research for Rakia information. I have given a little taste of the style of writing that is done in a language that is easily digested and taken on board. Karolina Bielenin, the author of the article lives in Warsaw, Poland she certainly has a talent for getting her message over.

Here is an extract from the article, this is just a small part of the whole project which covers every aspect of Rakia in Macedonia.

...................Rakia is being drunk mostly in the morning, before eating. As every beverage with high alcohol content it improves digestion. In the morning, says S.M. Mijatovic, people drink very strong rakia from special, tiny glasses (bigger glasses are used for rakia with less alcohol content, the biggest for wine) (Mijatovic 1908: 78). Rakia is also drunk before dinner, as anaperitif and in the evenings.

In winter, and especially during winter holidays, sweet rakia is heated before serving (mac. varena rakija, serb. grejanica). Heated rakia is also an indispensable element of the wedding customs. It is also possible to use heated rakia externally (massaging throat and chest) as a medicine for colds.

Drinking rakia demands cultural knowledge and competence as rakia is a special traditional beverage. Drinking rakia is usually connected with significant actions. The elementary one is saying “Cheers!” (Mac. “na zdravje!”, Serbian “zhiveli!” is also often used) while knocking the glasses and looking each other in the face. Knocking the glasses has an apotropaic meaning like knocking the red-coloured eggs at Easter. Both actions are intended to ward off evil spirits that could haunt the household (Knizevik 1997: 33). Looking in the face can be the way of showing openness, reducing the distance between people, and is prevalent not only in Macedonia, but in whole Balkan region.

My interviewees explained why one should look another in the face while knocking the glasses in different manners, e.g.: Well, what does it look like when you knock the glass with..................

You can read the whole article at this link:
http://www.iea.pmf.ukim.edu.mk/EAZ/EAZ_05/EAZ_2004_PDF/KB_rakija_eng.pdf

Cherry Rakia Time Soon

Rakia is now nearing the end of supplies and it is a productive spring to look forward to with the rakia production back in action again with the first crops of cherries. The town of Sliven is famed for its cherry rakia and of course the surrouding area has ample decares of cherry orchards that are specifically for the cherry rakia.

I tried my first cherry rakia only last year and the exprience was a pleasant one. Made in Sliven in the home of a friend we visited, it had a distintive aroma and aftertaste. Slightly sweeter than the grape and sliva versions, but requires an experienced hand to make this cherry base rakia on par with them.

Our Bulgarian friend showed us his method of distilling, using a big pan with some cherry wine and a jam jar in the centre. An ice filled wok restign on top. This is heated and the wine's steam is immediately cooled and the drips fall into the jam jar. He keep his wok and pans on an interesting enclume pot rack. Hanging from the ceiling it saves space which is just as well as his kitchen is his bedroom and dining room as well. The enclume hanging system is something I still remember very well and still have a little piing form in my kitchen with rakia making utensils at the ready for a little distilling.

Well needless to say the cherry rakiia may well be tried this year by us. We missed out last year and are considering buying the cherries when they are in season and the price at its lowest.

Rakia Made For Illegal Business Apparently On The Increase

The illegal making of Rakia goes on and more are getting caught. this time it is in Plovdiv. there is never going to be a complete eradication of finds by the authorities as only a certain percentage each year is confiscated. this does mean though that the more finds made means more is being made underground based on that certain percentage. This can only put a stronger case for tax on Rakia unfortunately. I would say there isn't a person in Bulgaria who doesn't know someone who makes excess Rakia for a side business.

In the frames of a check-up executed by officers with the Economic Police and the Customs Plovdiv, authorities found and confiscated 1 ton and 420 liters of alcohol from a warehouse in the village of Parvenets, district of Plovdiv. Vyara Genova, press officers of the National Customs Agnecy, announced.

The warehouse is managed by the Djiro Trade company. The alcohol was found in a mini-bus, parked close to the warehouse. The alcohol was divided into plastic bottles of mineral water and is of different types – vodka, rakia, mint liquor.

In the end of February, at the decision of the director of the National Customs Agency, the license for alcohol trade of the Djiro Trade company have been taken away over constant violations.

Only in 2009, 15 penalties of violation have been drawn to the company, worth a total of BGN 45,000.

An inquest has been initiated on the case. Investigation continues.

Story from: http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n212233
Image by Phil Hawksworth via Flickr

Rakia Drinking Vessels - What Choices Are There?

Drinking rakia is a common practice and most have a habit of drinking gout of the same drinking vessel for years. Sometimes the type of drinking vessel can affect the taste of the rakia, for example wooden and metal materials can react with the spirit and give a slight taint to the finish.

Traditionally in Bulgaria wooden vessels were used, but today glass is the best choice of material that does not impair the flavour of the rakia. If you currently use a metal or wooden vessel, try a change by using glass, it may well improve the rakia moment. The best places to get glass rakia drinking vessels are from restaurant supply retailers or restaurant equipment suppliers. It doesn't have to be a specific rakia drinking vessel as most spirit glasses will suffice. After all rakia is a brandy so one would assume that brandy glasses would be best. I actually disagree and recommend whisky glasses, not least because they can stand the 'knocks' when the 'Nastrave' is made.

Whatever style of glass you choose to drink your rakia from glass has proven to be the best.