The Bar Balkans Archivi

Maksuzija, a rakija distilled by Dubioza kolektiv

14May

By BarBalcaniNo Comments

Rakija, The Bar Balkans

Maksuzija, a rakija distilled by Dubioza kolektiv

Rakija - the most famous alcoholic drink of all the Balkans - distilled by Dubioza kolektiv is called Maksuzija. And there is also the special edition 'Dubioza kolektiv', a traditional slivovitz, made of plums (more…)

7May

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Rakija, The Bar Balkans

Why is rakija called rakija?

The name rakija comes from the Turkish word rakı, which means 'brandy'. But rakija could also come from the Arabic word raqiya, which means 'to condense'. The earliest records of rakija distillation in the Balkan Peninsula date back to the medieval period, while the drink became even more widespread during the Ottoman Empire (more…)

Sabaja, the first craft brewery in Kosovo

23Apr

By BarBalcaniNo Comments

Beer, The Bar Balkans

Sabaja, the first craft brewery in Kosovo

Sabaja is the first craft brewery in the country. It started brewing in June 2013, five years later the independence of the country from Serbia. In ancient Illyria (the region corresponding to the Western part of the Balkan peninsula) beer was known as sabaja (more…)

The ‘Open Balkan’ wines conquered Vinitaly

8Apr

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Economics, Politics, Wine

The ‘Open Balkan’ wines conquered Vinitaly

The international wine exhibition Vinitaly hosted a group of more than 150 wineries from Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. And an economic/political project in partnership with the European Union (more…)

The Roman Empire roots of the Balkan wine

26Mar

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The Bar Balkans, Wine

The Roman Empire roots of the Balkan wine

The culture of wine production in the Balkan area is related to the Roman Empire. And in particular to one specific emperor. The first traces of vineyards in the Danube area date back to Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (more…)

12Mar

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Rakija, The Bar Balkans

Rakija medovača

Medovača is rakija made from fermented and distilled honey (more…)

Cockta, the spomenik of Balkan soft drinks

18Dec

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Other Drinks, The Bar Balkans

Cockta, the spomenik of Balkan soft drinks

Cockta is a soft drink invented in 1952 in the Socialist Republic of Slovenia to compete with foreign brands and compensate their absence in Yugoslavia (because of a governmental ban). The name comes from the word 'cocktail' and is still made of a blend of eleven different herbs and spices, including rose hip, the prominent flavor within the drink (more…)

An Albanian wine, a Balkan summit, an European perspective

11Dec

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The Bar Balkans, Wine

An Albanian wine, a Balkan summit, an European perspective

Kodra e Bukur from Vila Hadaj Winery is a red wine made from Merlot, Cabernet and Shesh i Black grapes, grown in 30-year-old vineyards on the hills of Malinati. With its ruby red color, a strong flavor and hints of berries, Kodra e Bukur is perfect to accompany all Mediterranean dishes (more…)

Piolalibri, the reference point for the community and for the Italian wines in Brussels

4Dec

By BarBalcaniNo Comments

The Bar Balkans, Wine

Piolalibri, the reference point for the community and for the Italian wines in Brussels

Piolalibri bookstore and winery is the reference point for the Italian community in Brussels. Founded in 2007 by Jacopo Panizza, this is a meeting place with a wide selection of fine wines from all Italian regions, and wines by the glass changing monthly. And welcomed BarBalkans for the event "Poveri noi. Tales from Bihać and from the Balkan route" (more…)

Rediscovering the recent history of Kosovo at Elida pastry shop

20Nov

By BarBalcaniNo Comments

Other Drinks, The Bar Balkans

Rediscovering the recent history of Kosovo at Elida pastry shop

Since 1977, in Elida pastry shop, or rather Elida embëltore, you can taste lemonades, Turkish coffee and boza, but also rediscover the history of Prishtina. This was a meeting point for the Kosovar intelligentsia in the turbulent and violent Nineties, and now it has become a heritage site, protected by the Ministry of Culture (more…)