Traditional Russian Drinks

There are several traditional drinks that are popular in Russia. For example, the medovuha which is a honey-based beverage. Medovuha does contain alcohol and is a sweet drink compared with some other drinks. In ancient times, the monks were the most common producers of medovuha. With the invention of the distillation tank in the 14^th century, the drink became more readily available since it could be produced more quickly. The traditional medovuha contains honey and only natural ingredients. Today one can also find medovuha that does not contain alcohol, which is marketed for people who do not want to drink alcohol.

Vodka Drinks

Vodka is the national drink of Russia and is probably the most famous drink associated with the Russian culture. Vodka is widely used as a drink but is also used in cooking. The vodka is made by mashing and fermenting several milled grains, then distilling and filtering the product.

Samogon is a type of moonshine vodka. This drink was produced before vodka was produced. It is still popular in rural areas and is made from a variety of ingredients. Ingredients can include grains, potatoes, beetroots, corns, and sugars. Sometimes samogon makers also add fruit or honey to sweeten the resulting drink. This home brewed alcoholic beverage can be very strong and can be made from almost any ingredient that is available. Every country has their version of moonshine, and this is the Russian version of moonshine.

Non-alcoholic

Kvas is another popular beverage that is a bread drink that does not contain alcohol. The drink is made using rye or black bread, raisins, sugar and yeast. It is similar to beer and is also produced by fermentation, but it has a sweeter taste in general than beer. Some companies have taken to adding this drink to soda; however, this is not the traditional kvas drink. The traditional kvas is making a comeback in Russia and is not the drink that is produced by modern soda companies.

Kompot is a drink that is used more as a dessert. It is a drink that is made from stewed fruit. A variety of fruit can be used to make kompot including raspberries, strawberries, apricots, prunes, plums and blueberries. To make kompot you first make syrup from water, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. You can also use liqueur. Soft chopped pieces of fruit are added and then the mixture is cooked until the fruit is greatly softened. Kompot has become popular worldwide and is a drink that can be served cold or hot. It is a very popular Russian drink that people consume.

Prostokvasha is a drink that is made of sour milk. It is usually served cold and is purported to be a healthy drink since the milk contains probiotics that can be helpful for the immune and digestive systems. These traditional drinks are a big part of the Russian culture, even today. If you visit Russia it would be a good idea to try out these traditional Russian drinks while on your trip.

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