The National Drink

 

Rakia or Rakija (pronounced rakiya) is the collective term for fruit brandy popular in Croatia. The alcohol content of rakija is normally 40% ABV, but home-produced rakija can be stronger (typically 50% to 80% but going as high as 90% at times). Moving here you will 100% get the opportunity to try it. Due to the tradition of growing fruit trees in your back garden you will highly likely have enough fruit to make your own. Most villages will have an expert maker who will be more than happy to show how the brandy making “happy machine” works. The Croatian word for this device is kazan. It has been said that rakija can be made from just about anything – although the key fruit are plums, pears, grapes and honey.