Raki Glasses, Istanbul, Set of 6

Product Information

Weisstuch, Liza (11 February 2023). "Is This Rustic Southern European Booze the Next Mezcal?". The Daily Beast. While drinking, the seasons also have different effects on people. For example, while listening to the sound of the water by the river on a spring evening… Listening to the sound of the rain tapping the roof in winter… When we get together with our friends on a hot summer evening, while watching the leaves falling on a windy autumn day, it always leaves different flavors on our palate. The Cretan raki, originally called tsikoudia in Crete, is the same in production and taste as tsipouro, the pomace brandy known in Greece. Raki is the drink served on Crete on almost every occasion. This Cretan drink is as a symbol of friendship and nobility and a sign of social communication. To put it simply, it's the national drink of the Cretans. It is served almost naturally after every meal and there is often the opportunity to drink raki. If this a birthday party and you have many people in the group, a restaurant venue might work better. The restaurant or a similar venue can have louder music and some traditional music such as “fasil” and some places include a belly dancer, too.

Both theories are acceptable. It may surprise some that its most common name is derived from the Arabic word عرق [ʕaraq], which means distilled. The theory is that Arak means "sweat" in Arabic and Araki means "that which makes you sweat". Sometimes when you drink too much raki you sweat and when raki is distilled it falls like drop by drop so the name may come from Arabic Rakija (Cyrillic: Ракија) is very popular and widespread in Bosnia and Herzegovina, just like in its neighboring countries. A major contributing factor to the production of rakija in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the diversity and availability of fruit in the valley of the river Drina and the untouched and very often wild nature in the mountains. Rakija, rakia, rachiu, raki or rakiya ( / 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 50–80%). [1] Etymology [ edit ] Although wine is the essential part of the Eucharist rite in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in the region, rakia has found uses in certain religious and related rituals across the Balkans.There is a long list of appetizers to enjoy with Raki, but the best appetizers, according to the Turks, are people. Other than that, cheese and melons are the starting appetizers with this beverage. The appetizers with Raki are referred to as Mezze and contain hot and cold foods. Raki is an alcoholic beverage that originated during the Ottoman Empire. It was a drink produced and consumed in Ottoman lands, especially by non-Muslim Armenians and Greeks. In the 19th century, it became the most popular drink, especially in taverns run by non-Muslims. Another view is that raki was first produced by the Turkmen in Iraq and spread throughout the region. In Romania and Moldova, the related word rachiu or rachie is used to refer to a similar alcoholic beverage as these neighboring countries, often a strong fruit-based spirit, usually from grapes. However, the more commonly used terms for similar popular beverages are țuică and palincă; țuică in particular is prepared only from plums. Additionally, the regional term vinars (literally "burnt-wine") in Romania, and divin in Moldova, can refer to brandy in general as well. The Cretan raki is an integral element of the island’s culture, identified by many as "the national drink of Crete" and linked to hospitality. [22]

Raki is the Turkish translation of the word “arak”, which means “distilled” in Arabic. Turks started to pronounce this word as “ Araki“. Later, in the Ottoman Period, the word Arak became Raki. The Ottomans began to use this word especially to mean distilled grape juice. A single (40 ml) is 105 calories, and an 80 ml (double) glass of Raki is equal to 3 glasses of wine or 5 slices of bread, which is around 170 calories. Since it is consumed with lots of meze plates on “Raki sofrasi”, those mezes might add on extra calories in the end. Otherwise, one or two glasses will not do any harm but good for the spirit of many.Some believe that since it was produced by the Turkmen Turks living in Iraq and distributed to the neighboring countries, the name was derived from “Iraqi: came from Iraq.” This one is not supported by most experts as there was no government named Iraq when the definition “Arak” was already used in 16th-century during the Ottoman era. In line with restrictive laws on alcohol sales, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the socially conservative Justice and Development Party, announced in 2013 that Turkey’s national drink isn’t raki but ayran – a yogurt-based refreshment. And so you should: getting drunk at the raki table, wobbling out of the tavern at the end of the night, is frowned upon. Plum and grape rakia are sometimes mixed with other ingredients, such as herbs, honey, sour cherries and walnuts, after distillation. [2]

Jug-Dujaković, Marija; Dolina, Katija (November 2019). "Plants in alcoholic beverages on the Croatian islands, with special reference to rakija travarica". Journal of eJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicinethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 15 (51): 51. doi: 10.1186/s13002-019-0332-1. PMC 6833235. PMID 31690333. {{ cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI ( link)

Experience Turkish Raki for Yourself

Some distillates can be selected and aged in oak barrels for several years to give them the properties of spices, dried fruits, vanilla, chocolate, smoke aromas, leather notes, barrel wood aromas, etc., depending on the type of raki and the aging conditions.

If you are not used to it, it will take you only 2 or 3 double shots to get drunk. If you are good at drinking, you can challenge another double, but drink it slowly, and you will know how it goes. Our recommendation is a 20 cl or 35 cl for 2, and if a party of 4 or more, then go for a 70 cl.

The Name and The History of Raki

In short, it is not drunk to get drunk. It is rather drunk at family gatherings, hospitality when you get together with best friends to celebrate something.