Today I want to tell you about Russian drinks.

Before Russians discovered coffee, black and green tea, they drank their traditional Russian drinks, which are in no way inferior in their taste, magnificence and healing power. Almost all primordially Russian drinks cannot be found in any other national cuisine. First of all,  they are sbitni, kvasses, fruit drinks, honey,  whey with raisins and boiled cabbage juice, as well as tea from dried leaves of fireweed, that is, willow-tea.

Tea

Russians drank their own tea, which was based on a variety of herbs: mint, nettle, Ivan tea,  etc Chinese merchants tried to promote their tea in Russia, but it failed. Chinese Tea reached the Russian people during the reign of Catherine II. 

Vodka

The official term “vodka“ appeared rather late. The term appeared the first time in the decree of Elizabeth I. Before this decree, the drink was called boiled or combustible wine. It was an alcoholic drink with additional tastes and color: bread spirit consisting of herbs, berries or spices, and then distilled, getting a serious 45 percent alcohol content. Catherine the Great in 1765, by her decree, banned the production of vodka to all classes, except the nobility. Merchants, bourgeoisie, clergy and peasantry were obliged only to buy vodka.

Medovuha

Initially, Medovuha was  simply called “honey“ in Russia. Oak barrels filled with honey were put under the ground for  from 5 to 20 years. From the 11th century, honey began to be brewed, it reduced the long-term period of producing Medovuha. The drink was used in  baptisms and remembrance. Today, the traditions of Medovuha are preserved in the small town of the Vladimir region – in Suzdal. I will never forget the impact of this drink on me. From my point of view, this drink is stronger than Vodka, and tastier.

Sbiten

This is my favourite winter drink, which foreign sailors called “Russian mulled wine”, and appeared in Russia a thousand years ago. The traditional ingredients are honey, bay leaf, ginger, sage, chilli, and wine. Street vendors, as a rule, traded it without the wine. Such a drink for a long time replaced tea and coffee. Sbiten became widespread in Russia until the twentieth century. Sbiten, drunk only hot, perfectly warmed those who drank it on cold winter days. Nowadays it is possible to drink cold sbiten. You will find my favourite recipe  in my book. In addition, this hot honey drink is an excellent sedative, it improves one’s mood, facilitates sleep, increases immunity and contributes to longevity.

What is your favourite drink? Did you taste these Russian drinks? Or probably do you have a dream to come to Russian and taste them?

P.S Russian courses online are here