What is Rakı?

• Rakı is one of Turkey’s national drinks (the other being tea)
• Commonly referred to as Lion’s Milk “aslan sütü”
•  It’s traditionally made from distilled grape pomace (skins, pulp, seeds, and stems of the fruit) left over from wine making, and mixed with aniseed
• Recently, fresh grape Rakı (yaş üzüm rakısı) has become more popular in Turkey
• Some regions also make Rakı out of other fruit – like Figs (Incir rakısı)
• Rakı comes in different alcohol strengths, with different levels of aniseed

Ordering your Rakı

• Rakı is sold as a single drink; in small glass pitchers; and in various size bottles
  • To order a single glass, ask for “Bir kadeh rakı”
• Rakı comes in 4 bottle sizes:
  • “Bir Yirmilik” – 20 cl. rakı bottle
  • “Bir Otuzbeşlik” – 35 cl. rakı bottle OR “Küçük rakı” (small bottle of rakı)
  • “Bir Yetmişlik” – 70 cl. rakı bottle OR“Büyük rakı” (big bottle of rakı)
  • “Bir Yüzlük” – 100 cl. rakı bottle

Rakı Brands:

• Probably the best known and most popular is Yeni Rakı, which has an alcohol content of 45% and 1.5 grams of anise per litre
• Made by the same company, Tekirdağ Rakısı has an alcohol content of 45%, but has 1.7 grams of anise per litre.  Their Golden Series is made from fresh grapes, and is a good quality popular Rakı brand
• Efe Rakı was the first company to start making Rakı from fresh grapes.  Their varieties include – Classic, Fresh Grape, 3 Distilled and Organic (their website has beautiful graphics)
• There are also two other top-quality brands called Kulüp Rakısı and Altınbaş, with 50% alcohol
• Mercan also produce a selection of different varieties

How to drink Rakı

• Rakı is served in tall slim glasses
• It’s traditionally consumed:
  • Straight (sek, from the French “sec” meaning neat or dry)
  • Mixed with chilled Water (1 part Raki, 2 parts water)
  • With Ice cubes
• When diluted with water, Rakı turns a milky-white colour
• Rakı can also be served with a separate glass of chilled water
• Don’t drink it like a shot, sip it slowly
• The idea is not to get drunk but to relax, enjoy the company, and maintain a glow

What to eat with Raki

• A traditional Rakı Table (Çilingir Sofrası) is the name used to describe a dinner table set to enjoy Rakı and a selection of Meze
• A favourite accompaniment with Rakı is cold sweet yellow melon (kavun) and salty feta cheese (beyaz peynir)
• If you want to keep drinking Rakı with your dinner, it goes better with fish than meat

If you’re a Rakı drinker, what’s your favourite brand?

 

 

 

  

© Yeni Rakı Photo; © Efe Rakı Photo; © Bottles of Rakı Photo

© Rakı knowledge culled from Istanbulpedia; wikipedia; raki8k; Anatoliahistory; Turkish Arak