All you need to know about Rakia

The water of life, the fiery water, the spirit of spices, and many other names are related to it. In European countries there is a centuries-old tradition of production and consumption of alcoholic beverages, with the same or similar way of making, in England it is called gin, brandy, rum, in Germany - schnapps, in Russia and Poland - vodka, in Scandinavia - aquavita.

Rakia is a spirited drink similar to wine and vodka, made by distillation of fermented fruit. Alcohol content is usually around 40%, even homemade Rakia can be stronger, from 50 to 60%. The rusk is a double-distilled Rakia where the alcohol content sometimes exceeds as much as 60%. Along the coast of the Adriatic and generally in the northern Mediterranean, the most produced type of Rakia is Lozovača (Rakia made of grapevine). Grape Rakia is made from by-products in the preparation of wine (peel and sludge), and sometimes after distillation mixes with other ingredients such as aromatic herbs, honey, cherries and hazelnuts. Distillation is mainly done in copper boilers which can be designed for a discontinuous process mainly for domestic production and discontinuous in industrial production. Rakia is colorless except when other ingredients are added to it. Some Rakia is kept in wooden barrels (oak) for added aroma and golden color. It is recommended to drink it from special small cups with a capacity of 0.3 to 0.5 dl.

Brlja is a popular name for cheap brandy of poor quality.

Our ancestors about Rakia: "A psychiatrist can help, but Rakia is cheaper"

Rakia`s healing stories are passed on from generation to generation, and there is almost no disease that can't be cured by this magic drink. After a heavy meal, a finger or two of plums, vines or herbs Rakia will immediately soothe the stomach. Does your tooth hurt? Do not swallow the Rakia, but keep it in a painful place. Rakia is a cure for sore knee, post-fall injuries, skin problems, a cure for courage against various fears, including rejection… In Dalmatian hinterland You can come up with any kind of problem, doesn't matter what it is that's bothering you, and your grandparents will always say the same: “Put Rakia on it, you'll feel better.” But apart from being a cure, Rakia is still an indispensable part of many traditions. Also it is well known on the whole Balkan that Rakia is connecting people. Therefore you can be sure once you are in Dalmatia someone will eventually offer you a “Bićerin (small cup with a capacity of 0.3 to 0.5 dl) of Rakia” and then it is up to You, to be cured or not to be cured (from whatever), but if you agree to try Rakia keep in mind that - "one cup is enough, two cups are not"