I travel around former Yugoslavia countries often and meeting people a wide variety of people. One thing that most of these encounters have in common is a hospitality and a traditional welcome with rakija (Balkans) or šnops (Slovenia). Here are five photos of people greeting me with this strong drink with stories behind each photo. Later down the post, you will learn a little bit more about rakija 🙂 Let’s go!
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Martin Brod. I was leading a photo workshop at Una river national park and we stumbled upon locals distilling homemade moonshine.. We had a few shots with them and I think it helped our creativity.
Montenegro
Kapetanovo Lake, Moračke planine, Montenegro. A closeup shot of a shepherd pouring his rakija for me. Strong stuff. I had to drink several of these.. My hiking plans fell apart that day..
Serbia
Stitkovo village, winter.. I was walking around the village with friends when a window opens. This guy wasn’t sure about our good intentions but when he heard we are from Slovenia we were friends.. He offered us the ultimate rakija – with a cross! Drinking it from the bottle is the way to go. There is a large wooden cross inside of the bottle. A special blessing I suppose.
Macedonia
When visiting St Naum monastery at Lake Ohrid with a group, I chatted with this friendly ticket seller. He was enthusiastic with offering this Loza, a grape brandy a bit too much.. He didn’t care that there was a long queue behind me.
Slovenia
Jamnik village. Instead of photographing that iconic church, I spent my time with this pleasant gentleman. He told all about his life achievements and was happy to socialise with me.
In Slovenia, we do not use the word rakija but šnops (from German Schnapps) or žganje. The most popular ones are slivovica (plum), sadjevec (mixed fruits, mostly apples) and viljamovka (William’s pear).
So what is Rakija exactly?
The word rakija (pronounced “rakia”) comes from the Turkish word “raki” and generally means a strong distilled drink in the Balkans. I asked ChatGPT a couple of questions and here are the answers below.
What is rakija?
Rakija is a type of fruit brandy that is popular in the Balkans. It is typically made by fermenting and distilling the juice of various types of fruit, such as grapes, plums, apricots, or quince. Rakija is often homemade and can vary greatly in terms of flavour and strength, depending on the type of fruit and the method of production. It is often enjoyed as an after-dinner drink or as a social lubricant and is an integral part of the culture in many parts of the Balkans.
How strong is rakija?
The strength of rakija can vary significantly, as it is often made at home and the method of production can vary. In general, rakija can have an alcohol content that ranges from around 40% to 60% ABV (alcohol by volume). Some types of rakija, such as grape rakija, can be quite strong and have an alcohol content that approaches or exceeds 60% ABV. Other types, such as plum rakija, may be slightly lower in alcohol content and have an alcohol content in the range of 40-50% ABV. The strength of rakija can also be affected by the method of production, with some methods resulting in a stronger final product than others.
Conclusion
Travelling around the Balkans and meeting people is something I am very passionate about. Even if I rarely drink alcohol, I accepted drinking rakija as a gesture of hospitality. It will never be “my thing” but I started to appreciate the good ones. Sometimes one can encounter a lovely rakija in the middle of nowhere. The homemade stuff can be either the best or the worst – a kind of a lottery. My favourite flavours are the apricot and the quince. When you travel in Serbia or Montenegro, ask for kajsija or dunja!
