Turkish Drink - Turkish Raki - Turkish National Drink - Yeni Raki -Efe Raki- Greek Ouzo - Raki - Ouzo - Pastis

When you mention the word "Raki" to someone who has tasted it, you will get 2 distinct reactions.  One is a pure gagging reflex, as though the person has memories of drinking something close to poison.  The other reaction is complete pleasure, as though there is no other taste that quite comes close to this licorice-flovored alcohol.  Personally, I started out with the first reaction, but have gravitated toward the latter.  It is definitely an experience that grows on you.  I'm not saying I would prefer to drink rakı over wine with a nice meal, but for me, it is reserved for those occasions where I have to be in the right place (in a fish restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus) at the right time (on a hot summer night).  I still love to watch as this watery-looking liquid is mixed with ice and then water to become a cloudy milky white substance.  No wonder it is referred to as "Aslan Sutu" or "Lion's Milk".  It is a taste that will certainly put hair on your chest, figuratively speaking, of course.

Turks are not the only anise-loving country.  Similar beverages are found throughout Europe.  In France it is Pastis (modern day absinthe), in Greece they drink Ouzo and Mastika, in Italy, Sambuca and in the Middle East and South Eastern Asia, Arak.  

Raki is derived from grapes, but this is the only similarity that it has with wine.  It has a strong link to Turkish and Ottoman history.  It is ingrained in Turkey's culture.  During Ottoman times meyhanes (tavernas) began to serve rakı and it is here where the love for the beverage began.  This love affair with raki has continued through the collapse of the Ottoman Empire into modern day Turkey, where the Tekel (once a state-owned spirits monopoly) began to distill the alcohol.  In 2004 Tekel was sold to a private company (Mey icki ) which has brought in competition to the world of spirits in Turkey.  This has only enhanced the quality of the beverage as well as the price.  Mey Icki produced one of the best raki called (Yeni Raki). Yeni raki is the best seller in Turkey.
Other raki producers are Efe raki, Burgaz raki. Other raki brands are Raki cesitleri, raki fiyatlari, Tekirdag raki, altinbas raki, tekirdag rakisi, kulup raki, sari zeybek raki, cilingir raki, fasil raki, mercan raki, izmir rakisi, MEY icki)

Raki is without a doubt the national beverage of choice.  Go to any taverna in Turkey, follow the sounds of music playing, boisterous laughter and singing, moments of spontaneous dancing and hand-clapping and chances are you will find all of the participants with a glass of rakı, half-empty in front of them.  As they say in Turkey "Içelim güzelleşelim", "Let's drink, let's get beautiful".

When you drink raki you must have some tapas ( Turks call it meze).  When dining out, you will be presented with a large tray of mezes from which you choose.  There are many kind of mezes such as haydari, meze, tarator, peynir, beyaz peynir, kasar peynir, babaganous, pastirma, coban salata, salata.

Kavist.com carries a full selection of Raki.  Go online to order or visit the shop at Istanbul Sapphire in Levent Maslak, Istanbul.

Additional articles about Raki

About the author

Liz Smith is a freelance Wine & Food writer. She resides in Miami Beach and Istanbul, Turkey.

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