In the Caucasus the Cossacks often complain that for many centuries their image has been associated with alcohol. It is true that the Cossacks like strong drink. However, it was forbidden to take vodka, wine and other alcoholic drinks on campaigns: a dry law was declar ed. It appeared Cossacks were fond of non-alcoholic drinks too.
The national cuisines of the Caucasus peoples are a wide topic for discussion and admiration. Take, for example, tea. Even simple tea can surprise you. The secret of it was given away by guests from Moscow, who bought some herbs in Kislovodsk and added them to tea. I have never tasted such a remarkable drink. The recipe is hidden in Cossack cuisine:
2.5 litres of water. Put a spoonful of thyme, melilot, mint, two cloves, a piece of ginger and two spoonfuls of tea. Boil and filter. Add honey. Drink hot.
Another popular drink among Cossacks has always been kvas. And not only made from bread. It is believed that kvas from blackthorn is much tastier. This plant is not rare in Stavropol Territory.
For blackthorn kvas you should grate 1 kg of blackthorn. Separate the juice, cover the pressed cake with 4 litres of water and boil for 15 minutes. Cool, filter, add 300g of sugar and boil again. Cool and add the blackthorn juice. Add 1 g of yeast. Ferment for 5 days.
In summer, this cheery infusion was very popular among the Caucasus Cossacks.
The most simple and popular Cossack drink is uzvar or vzvar. In fact, it is a compote from dried fruits, but with honey. It is popular because can be made in any season, either summer or winter.
Lada Ledeneva, Stavropol. Exclusively to VK.
