Krambambula is a drink of Belarus with its history

Each nation has symbols by which they are recognized throughout the world. And this applies to all spheres of life: cooking, clothing, dancing and even alcoholic beverages. And if Russia is famous all over the world for its high-quality vodka, the alcohol symbol of Belarus is considered to be krambambula. This drink is so interesting and unusual that you need to learn more about it.

What is a krambambula?

Behind this unusual name for hearing is a national Belarusian alcoholic drink based on ethyl alcohol or vodka, infused with honey and a mixture of herbs.

Krambambula is a drink, the recipe of which is not strict, and everyone who prepares it, has the opportunity to adjust the taste. Honey in the tincture gives a sweet, unique taste and color. A set of herbs and spices is usually used standard, changes in taste can be achieved by changing the ratio of some of them.

Transparent consistency, moderate strength and honey tinge - that's what a good krambambula should look like. The drink, the photo of which is located below, is the famous Belarusian tincture.

A bit of history

This alcoholic drink is worthy of withstanding - its history dates back more than three centuries. The first mention of krambambula in the annals dates back to the 18th century.

In those days it was believed that krambambula is a drink of the rich and merchants. For ordinary people, it was not available. The thing is that for preparing this tincture, in addition to honey, a large number of spices and spices are used. And at the beginning of the eighteenth century, their price was equated to the cost of bellows and gold. That is why the crabbambula came out truly "golden".

An unusual name tincture is also due to its historical roots. In those days, when the recipe was invented, the territory of modern Belarus was part of the Lithuanian principality. It was there that Danzig brought the German liquor "Krambambuli" from which they borrowed the name for the national drink.

Features of use

Traditionally, it is believed that krambambula is a drink that is served in a preheated form. The temperature of the tincture should be about 37-40 degrees. It is in this form that the aroma of spicy herbs and spices is best revealed, and the honey flavor makes bitterness from alcohol virtually invisible.

But over time, the tincture became popular and in a cold form. Chilled krambambula is an excellent alternative to vodka or cognac. It is much softer and leaves a pleasant aftertaste.

To supply the tincture in a cold form, it must be cooled to a minimum of 14 degrees and poured into glasses.

Recipe

If there is no opportunity to visit hospitable Belarus and taste a drink in its historic homeland, then you can cook it at home.

• To prepare the krambambuli in a clean pan, pour 500 ml of water and 500 ml of vodka. In the resulting mixture, add 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 pinch of nutmeg, 4-5 peppercorns and 4-6 sprigs of dried cloves, stir and boil over low heat for 10 minutes.
• After this time, the fire should be turned off, cover the pan and let the mixture cool to a temperature of 55 degrees.
• The next step will be the addition of 6 tablespoons of honey and another 500 ml of vodka. All together you need to mix thoroughly, cover again and let it brew for 10-15 minutes.
• After this, the resulting drink must be filtered. To do this, it is best to use a clean gauze folded in several layers. Through this filter it is necessary to pour the tincture into a glass jar and close it tightly with a lid.
• Now came the turn of the infusion stage: the bank with the future krambambles should be placed in a dark cool place where there is no access to direct sunlight. Perfectly suitable storage room or kitchen cupboard. In order for the mixture to infuse, it takes 10 - 14 days. Before use, the beverage must be filtered again, overflowing into a glass container for storage.

Subtlety and nuances of the recipe

Krambambula is a drink, reviews of which are diametrically opposed: both enthusiastic and negative. The consumers respond positively to the soft taste and pleasant aroma of the drink. Negative impressions of the tincture may result in improper cooking, resulting in its spoiled taste.

For the preparation of tinctures, it is best to take bottled mineral water without gas. This will ensure that simple water does not spoil the taste of the finished product.

For the alcohol component, you need not to stint and get high quality vodka. In no case should not be replaced by moonshine - this can negatively affect not only the taste of the drink, but also how the krumbambul will look. The drink should be clear, amber-honey color.

Honey is best added to flower or lime. Buckwheat honey is more specific and suitable for those who love it.

The ratio of spices in the recipe can be adjusted to your liking in the process of tasting. Caution should be shown only with dried cloves - the maximum amount should not exceed 6 branches.

Traditional Belarusian tincture of krambambula is not a very strong alcoholic drink with an unusual taste. It's not difficult to cook it yourself at home and pleasantly surprise your guests.