What is Turkish raki?

Meet raki — otherwise known as Lion’s Milk — the Turkish national drink made of twice-distilled grapes and aniseed. Raki is serious business in Turkey. It’s the go-to spirit for celebrating a promotion or a birthday or for muting the pain of a job loss or the end of a relationship.

What is raki Greece?

Tsikoudia (Greek: τσικουδιά, romanized: tsikoudiá, literally “terebinth”), also often called raki (Greek: ρακή, romanized: rakí) in the eastern part of Crete, is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Cretan origin that contains 40\% to 65\% alcohol by volume.

Is Ouzo and raki the same?

First of all, Ouzo is a drink that hails from Greece, while Raki has its origins in Turkey. The main difference is that Raki tends to be much, much stronger than Ouzo. It is often 90\% proof, nearly twice that of Ouzo. And if you can’t see it, you can certainly taste the difference!

What is ouzo made from?

Ouzo is made from a base spirit of grapes before being flavored with anise – the same distinct taste found in absinthe. Like any other anise-flavored spirit, if you add a little water to ouzo, it’ll get milky.

Does raki come from Greece?

This alcoholic drink is typical of countries in the Mediterranean region. It appears on many Greek islands and mainland Greece. Cretans are happy to offer this drink to tourists and guests. The original name comes from the Turkish and the raki produced in Turkey is anise flavoured in contrast to the Cretan one.

What is ouzo in Greece?

Ouzo (Greek: ούζο, IPA: [ˈuzo]) is a dry anise-flavored aperitif that is widely consumed in Greece. It is made from rectified spirits that have undergone a process of distillation and flavoring. Its taste is similar to other anise liquors like rakı, arak, pastis, and sambuca.

Is ouzo a Greek drink?

What is the best raki in Turkey?

The best-known rakı brand is the Yeni Rakı, but other brands are good like the Yeşil Efe (made from grapes) or the Tekirdağ Rakı. You can also try the Kulüp Rakı, the preferred brand of Atatürk, though a bit more expensive.

Is Raki the same as ouzo?

Raki is Turkish so you probably ask if it is same as its comparable Greek ouzo. No, their taste in spite of some similarities, it’s not identical, it is somewhat different. If the question was if it is similar, then the answer is likely yes, as much as it is similar to other similar drinks from other southern European countries like Italian sabuca.

What is Raki and what does it taste like?

If you want to try some Turkish customs and traditions, an easy induction is to drink a glass of Raki, the unofficial national alcoholic drink of Turkey. It tastes like the Greek equivalent of Ouzo and is widely consumed in Turkey despite high price increases over the last few years. There is certain etiquette to drinking it though.

What are the different types of Turkish raki?

These include Efe Rakı, Çilingir Rakı, Mercan Rakı, Fasıl Rakı, Burgaz Rakı, Ata Rakı, and Anadolu Rakı. Sarı Zeybek Rakısı, another recent brand, is aged in oak casks, which gives it a distinctive golden colour.

Why is Turkish raki diluted with water?

Turkish Raki is potent having \%40-50 alcohol thus it is commonly diluted with water or ice cubes to make the taste more enjoyable and (manageable). By adding water or ice cubes, this alcohol drink Rakı turns into a milky white colour. That’s the reason why Turkish call it ‘lion’s milk’- (Aslan sütü).