10 TYPES OF MACEDONIAN RAKIJA (BRANDY)

Shlivka rakija (plum brandy)

In one word - classic! You will rarely find a real plum brandy in which you'll feel the smell and taste of plum. Often this brandy is strong, with no color, fragrance reminiscent of pure alcohol, but even when it reaches the stomach, you can feel real plum that spreads strange heat in the whole body. It will certainly help with abdominal pain, especially if you have eaten something fat or low quality, plum will break all harmful (and harmful) substances in a second. However, be careful. Excessive drinking may be worse than any before!

Trevarka rakija (herbal brandy)

There are countless types of this rakija, just about as many different herbs and villages there are. When it is said that rakija acts as a remedy, it is primarily thought of trevarka, which among other highlights, it differs with its smell. From herbs that are put in rakija, mint, lavender, sage, rosemary, and others come into consideration  Mainly, wormwood is used for obtaining medicinal trevarka. The intensity of the smell and taste, of course, depend on how long the grass stands in the bottle. If you suffer from back pain, nothing will help as massage with herbal rakija from wormwood.

Medova rakija (honey brandy)

It is a known product which becomes a real healing drink by adding propolis. Honey brandy mostly has the character of a liqueur. It has 15-25% and rarely less than 30% of alcohol. Honey brandy is also one of the most dangerous brandies - sweet, slips through the throat, once you start drinking you won't know how to stop, and then it will be too late. For the consequences - don't ask. Of course,  depends on the preparation how sweet it will be, but because of its sweetness, it has a certain weight because of many people drink it in small quantities and only as an aperitif.

Lozova rakija (grape brandy)

Good grape brandy is difficult to find, because it is mixed with herbs very often. For industrial rakija, one can only say that it is good only against toothache, especially if it comes to inflammation. Nothing can stiff tooth better than a cup of grape brandy, and if you accidentally slip back two or three glasses, your facial expression will not be entirely happy. Well, now, brandy lovers will certainly say that there are top domestic grape brandies. I must say that in the last 10 years, there are wineries that produce top quality grape brandy in Macedonia and Tikvesh yellow grape brandy (Zolta lozova rakija) is one of the best. If you can find good grape brandy, especially the yellow one, then, you will never want to drink any other strong drink, it's that good.

Comova rakija (low quality grape brandy)

Comova rakija - imagine grape brandy, only worse edition. It is prepared from the "remnants" of grape brandy material and it is produced with its further boiling. In some parts of Slavonia there are como "festivals" which represent domestic products which later are often combined with various herbs to improve taste. However, because it remains a "folk remedy", it's really a top product in such combinations. Weak brandy connoisseurs can hardly find a difference between herbal brandy obtained from grape or como brandy.

Vilijamovka rakija (pear brandy)

Lately more appreciated brandies are those obtained from pure fruit varieties. Better brandy quality will give fruit richer with sugar and acids. Natural fruit brandy viljamovka is one of the most respected in the Balkans. Mustn't be confused with krushkovac, pear liqueur in red which is usually drank with a little milk. Viljamovka certainly isn't mixed with anything and besides it's strength, it has a specific fruity taste.

Mastika (anise brandy)

The Balkan region is most famous for Macedonian mastika Although industrial produced mastika has no medicinal properties (except for massage), domestic mastika is prepared from the herb anise which is especially good for respiratory and stomach problems. Anise gives unusual, menthol taste. With perhaps slight differences, Macedonian mastika is similar to Greek ouzo and Turkish raki yen. Unlike other brandies which are drank in small cups, mastika is often poured in one deciliter and then mixed with water. That way this transparent liquid becomes milky white and has a milder equally flavored taste.

Oreova (walnut brandy)

Walnut brandy, and some other fruit brandies, doesn't contain a large percentage of alcohol, so they can hardly be called a liqueur. Generally walnuts have great application and effectiveness, tincture of green walnuts strengthens hair roots, the oil is used for tanning the skin in sunscreen, and the fruit is good against gastritis and fat in the blood. When a herbal brandy is prepared from such a miraculously healthy herb, then it can't be bad. It has a darker brown color whose intensity depends on how long nuts stood in brandy, and the taste is a combination of sweet and bitter.

Imela rakija (mistletoe brandy)

The fruits of the mistletoe plant are poisonous, while stem and leaves have extremely healing properties. In the old texts it is written as a cure for epilepsy, but also against many other things - regulates blood flow, hormonal disorders and certain heart problems. Especially known place for preparation of this brandy is Istra, where residents prepare the como homemade brandy that is mixed with mistletoe and three other types of herbs. They reportedly have their own, secret recipe, therefore, Istra, Dalmatia, is the best place if you want to try real brandy from mistletoe.

Vishnova rakija (cherry brandy)

Although cherry brandy is considered a liqueur, it can also be high in alcohol as well as any other types of alcohol. Whole cleaned cherries are put in grape or como brandy, left to ferment, and the result is a sweet dark red liquid, easy for drinking. Those products prepared with a small percentage of alcohol can literally be drank as juice. To prepare cherry brandy you do not need a house, yard, kettle etc, you can put cherries in brandy on the balcony of the apartment. It is important to get the right measure, and when you put cherries to ferment, add a little rum, it will enrich the flavor.

So, do you drink brandy? :))