Rakı an indispensible part of Turkish culture
The adventure of rakı, or lion's milk, the national drink of Turkey, dates back to the 17th century
Rakı is the national drink of the Turks just like brandy is of the French, vodka the Russians and whiskey the Scots. It is drunk when a man falls in love... Or at the time of separation from a loved one... It is also the indispensable drink for holiday nights and hours of conversation.
Rakı has been called “lion's milk” for many centuries. The reason for the name is that rakı was offered in glasses featuring an embossed lion design in Ottoman taverns, and also because it color when mixed with water resembles milk. There is a general belief among people that rakı gives encouragement to people when they drink it. Although this courage sometimes becomes “extreme,” rakı is Turkey's traditional drink.
The adventure of rakı dates to the 17th century. Rakı is made from grapes and aniseed. Drinking rakı has its own traditional rituals. First of all, the rakı glass is thin and long, and rakı is served cold. Since it is not drunk straight, cold water and ice are present on the rakı table, but the ice is not added before the water because it results in giving the drink an unpleasant taste.
Rakı is served with meze:
Rakı is served with meze, a kind of Turkish hors d'oeuvres. It is considered rude to eat all the meze on the table. They must be offered to other people sitting at the table. The types of meze on the rakı table demonstrate the variety of Turkey's food culture. For example, cheese and melon are indispensable meze.
Even conversations held while drinking rakı have a special style and rules. Topics of conversation are carefully chosen, generally by the oldest person at the table. If the topic is politics, the conversation ends with a good joke. If it is sports, the conversation is cut short without insulting the rival team. Conversations proceed pleasantly. Also, rakı does not go down well if a pleasant ambience is lacking, and those who drink rakı must be sure to keep in mind just how many glasses of rakı they can drink.
Today there are different rakı brands in Turkey. It is clear that the increase in exports, especially after the privatization of companies owned by the government, made great contributions to the country's economy and the promotion of rakı. Turkish rakı will continue to shine like a star in Turkey and around the world.
June 17, 2006
ISTANBUL – Turkish Daily News
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