Rakia, or Rakija, the name of the popular Serbian brandy pull the roots from the Arabic language. It originates from the word “al-rak”, which means “sweat’’ according to some, while others claim that originates from the Turkish word “raki” that means a “drop of sweat”.
The word arrived in the Balkan regions together with the Ottoman conquest in the 14th and 15th century. At the beginning, the term was used to describe the beverage Arak which was produced in Indonesia, Malaysia and other far Eastern countries by distillation of fermented juice made of special sorts of palms.
Back in the 6th century B.C. Aristotle wrote that sea water, as well as other liquids, could be turned into drinking water if they underwent the process of distillation. During the 8th and the 9th century Arab chemists created alambics, which were used to produce perfume bases. The knowledge on distillation process was quickly spread across Europe and the production of distilled alcoholic beverages that were called “the water of life” started in many countries. It is not easy to find out the exact origin of a spirit because the recipes quickly became a part of national identity. The production of the “national drinks” began in European countries starting from the 15th century, with the appearance of gin in England, schnapps in Germany, aquavit in Scandinavia, vodka in Russia and Poland and Rakia in the Balkans.
Serbs did not start producing Rakia until the end of the 19th century, when Serbian vineyards (Serbia was a wine region since the Roman times) had already been destroyed by phylloxera, and wine production had been reduced. Brandy was often made from plums.
Today, brandies in Serbia are made from various fruits, although plum brandy still has a primacy. Rakia is an aperitif and it’s usually served with meze or seafood.
- SLJIVOVICA- TRADITIONAL PLUM BRENDY
- DUNJEVACA-QUINCE BRENDY
- LOZOVACA-GRAPE BRENDY
- KRUSKOVACA-PEAR BRENDY
- MEDOVACA SA NANOM-HONEY WITH MENTA
RAKIA TOUR
We walk through Dorcol, see a bit of street art, graffiti, culture and architecture and then we drop by one very cool local bar to grab a shot of sljivovica (the most traditional type of rakia) and continue to a distillery specialized for producing and selling rakia.
- 1 shot of Sljivovica
- Rakia tasting-3 shots of rakia (best quality from 20-40% of alcohol) with finger food (meze) typical for Serbia
- Presentation by rakia connoisseur
– lasts 2 h
– walking tour
– available in English and Serbian
-private tour
– price: 25 e per person
you can book a tour whenever you want, there are no precise schedules to follow
– make a reservation by sending an email to stillinbelgradetours@gmail.com
DORCOL’S LOCAL FOOD TOUR
We are passionate local foodies who would love to show you the best of Belgrade cuisine. Belgrade is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in Europe and its mix of heritage has really influenced the flavours that you will find here.
Discover historical, bohemian and hipster quarters of Dorcol with us!
Our food tour includes:
- Rakia (Serbian national drink) tasting with local finger food
- 1 Serbian national dish (high-quality meat) with salad
- 2 local craft beers
- One popular dessert (you can choose flavors)
- A cup of Coffee or a tea from the most interesting local coffee shops
In this tour you will get to know more on Dorcol street art, history, culture, architecture and cuisine.
Be a local, not a tourist!
Facts:
– lasts from 2 to 3 hours (we are very flexible and open for your suggestions)
– walking tour
– available in English and Serbian
– private tour
– price: 40 e per person
- You can book a tour whenever you want, there are no precise schedules to follow
– make a reservation by sending an email to stillinbelgradetours@gmail.com
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