Drinks you have to try in Serbia

Every country in the world has their traditional drink, and Serbia is not an exception. Serbs are famous for their hospitality, and they like eating and drinking both with their friends and with the guests. If you ever come to Serbia, there are several drinks you need to try, and here are some of the most popular ones.

Rakija (rakia) – Serbs are known for making excellent brandies of all kinds of fruits, and one of the most popular types of rakia is called šljivovica. This is a strong alcoholic beverage you may know by the name Slivovitz, and it is rakia made of plums. It is considered to be Serbian national drink, so if you want to try something really local and specific for this country, do not miss to have a shot of šljivovica. Other types of rakia are also popular, and I suggest you try those made of quince, pear or apricot, which are strong, but very aromatic.

Bermet – if you prefer wine over strong brandies, make sure to try Bermet. It is a dessert wine produced in Serbian wine region of Fruška gora, in the province of Vojvodina, and only several families from the region keep the secret of the original recipe. This wine is very sweet and aromatic, and it is served either as a dessert wine or as aperitif. It is assumed that this wine was supposed to be included in the Titanic’s wine list, since the bottles of Bermet were found in the wreck of this ship.

Beers – if you are a beer lover, good news is that Serbia has a large choice of domestic beers. There are several large breweries making popular types of beer such as Lav, Jelen or Zaječarsko, but the number of micro-breweries is on the rise, so it is possible to try all sorts of great craft beers as well.

Domestic coffee – domestic coffee (domaća kafa) is sometimes also called Turkish coffee. It is strong and made in all parts of Balkans, but each country has their own version of making it and serving it. In Serbia, it is usually served in a medium-sized cup, with a sugar cube or a small bag of sugar, with or without milk (as you prefer). After trying all those alcoholic beverages, you may need a cup of strong coffee to help you cure the hangover.