Rakia is a mysterious and melodic name that attracts tourists like a magnet. If you have never drunk this divine drink before, you should definitely try it. But how to distinguish real brandy and how to choose it correctly?
What a real rakiya
To begin with, understand that there are a great many types of brandy in Serbia and Bulgaria, and you should not think that one of them will be better and the other worse. Rakia is like honey: everyone chooses for himself the taste that he likes. In the homeland of this wonderful drink, there are practically no fakes - Serbs and Bulgarians are too proud of their traditional recipes to discredit their honor in front of tourists.
But if you want to buy rakia in Russia, or you have never tried it in your life and do not know at all what it should be, at least approximately, you can focus on some quality indicators. Serbs believe that a really good rakiya should not smell like soot or smoke and be slightly thick in appearance, that is, pour slowly, like honey or syrup. The strength of real brandy is from 40 to 60 degrees, so if you come across a drink at 30 or 65 degrees, this is not the best quality fake.
There is a different brand for every occasion
Interestingly, rakia is not just a strong alcoholic drink, but also a healing elixir, used by Serbs for centuries to treat a wide variety of diseases and ailments. Rakia, infused with wormwood, is used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Another variety of this drink - linzura - helps with pain in bones and joints (it is infused with the root of the linzur plant). And since ancient times, nut brandy has been used to combat thyroid diseases. In addition, there are varieties of brandy, prepared with the addition of whole compositions of medicinal herbs, which doctors advise to use to strengthen the immune system and raise the general tone of the body.
Color, taste and aroma
Most often, rakia is colorless, but there are varieties of honey, red, yellowish and even dark colors. In each case, the color determines the composition of the drink: the Serbs make rakia from various fruits, insist on herbs, and, like wine or brandy, are kept for a long time in wooden barrels, which gives the drink a unique color and aroma.
The best brandy for men is considered grape, it has a tart, purely masculine taste and a strength of about 50 degrees. And here is the most widespread and world famous brandy - plum brandy. This drink is softer than grape, but it has a special aroma and is not inferior in strength to its counterparts.
