Wednesday, 14 January 2009

• Drinking With the World: Favorite National Drinks

  by Molly

  Almost every major tourist destination has a national drink that everyone must try upon visiting. Some places are known simply for a type of alcohol, while others have formulated their own tasty (or not so tasty) beverage that they drink on a pretty national level. Here is a list of some of these national treasures!

  

  Brazil: Caipirinha/Cachaça. A Caipirinha consists of muddled lime and sugar, ice, and Cachaça. If it is made correctly, the Cachaça will be equal in amount to the lime juice. Cachaça is Brazil's most popular distilled alcohol, and is similar to rum in that it is made from sugarcane.

  Peru: Pisco Sour. This consists of Pisco, lemon or lime, egg whites, syrup and bitters as a topping. The egg whites form a foamy layer at the top of the drink, making it a distinctive looking.

  Mexcio: Tequila! Of course, Mexico's national beverage is actually an alcohol that can made most commonly into a margarita.....also a delicious option! All of the certified tequila in the US is made in Tequila, Mexico. Not a bad national drink if you ask me!

  Argentina: Yerba Mate. Though this is non-alcoholic, Mate is one of the most popular drinks seen throughout all of Argentia. It is a type of tea, which is sipped out of a special mate straw and placed in a specifically designed mate cup. On the weekends (or any day really), you can see groups of friends sitting in the park with their mate thermous, chatting away over a hot cup. You can find mate at bars as well, as they use the yerba to flavor a few of their drinks!

  Greece: Ouzo. This licorish-flavored liquour is seen everywhere in Greece. It is offered as an apretif in a wide variety of restaurants, and has become a must-have for any tourist passing through.

  Scotland: Whiskey/Snakebite. Whiskey is of course one of Scotland's specialties, and you can find some of the best whiskey in the world throughout every part of the country. You have to at least taste some whiskey if you are in Scotland! But, if you aren't a whiskey drinker, don't worry! Also popular among Scottish youth is the Snakebite, which consists of lager, cider and blackcurrant syrup. It kind of forms a sweet beer, and is popular throughout universities....it's worth a try, I have to say!

  Japan: Sake. You can get this delicious rice wine at pretty much every single Japanese restaurant around, but nothing is quite the same as having sake in Japan. So next time you are there, grab a warm sake to go along with your sushi!

  Russia: Vodka of course! It looks, and should smell like water if it is good! I don't think I could keep up with the local Russians though!

  Ireland: Guiness. It has to come in the regulation Guiness mug and have just the right amount of "head" for a hardcore Irish Guiness drinker to accept it.....it's a pretty serious tradition for the Irish! And, it has enough iron in it to suppliment your daily dietary needs. It's not only a cultural experience, but also nutritional!

  Jamaica: Rum in any form. We're in the islands mon', have a rum runna.

  What are your favorite national drinks? What is the strangest one you have come across?

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