How is commandaria made?

Commandaria is made exclusively from two types of indigenous Cyprus grapes: Xynisteri and Mavro. The grapes are then laid out in the sun to further increase the sugar density through evaporation. When the must weight reaches 19 to 23 °Bé the juice is extracted thorough crushing and pressing.

How strong is Zivania?

With an alcohol content of 40-99%, it is no surprise that the island’s national drink of Zivania is also referred to as ‘firewater’! The strong drink dates back to the 14th century when the island was under Venetian rule and is still made in the same tradition today.

What is the national drink of Cyprus?

Brandy Sour
The unofficial national cocktail of Cyprus, the Brandy Sour was invented in the Forest Park Hotel in Platres back in the 1930s. It was created for the young King Farouk of Egypt who would stay at the Forest Park Hotel on his many visits to Cyprus.

What are the ingredients in ouzo?

Ouzo production begins with distillation in copper stills of 96% alcohol by volume (ABV) rectified spirit. Anise is added, sometimes with other flavorings such as star anise, fennel, mastic, cardamom, coriander, cloves, and cinnamon.

Which is the oldest wine in the world?

Speyer Wine Bottle
Oldest Wine in Existence Today: 325-350 AD Speyer Wine Bottle. Found in 1867 in the tomb of Roman soldier, the Speyer wine bottle is believed to be the oldest wine in existence.

Is commandaria the oldest wine in the world?

Commandaria wine from Cyprus is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest named wine in the world. According to legend, King Richard the Lionheart of England was so taken with commandaria that at his wedding in 1191 he pronounced it “the wine of kings and the king of wines”.

Is zivania a vodka?

A bottle of Cypriot Zivania. Zivania or zivana (Greek: ζιβανία, ζιβάνα Turkish: Zibaniya) is a Cypriot pomace brandy produced from the distillation of a mixture of grape pomace and local dry wines made from Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. Zivania is colourless and alcoholic with a light aroma of raisins. …

What is a typical Cypriot breakfast?

A typical cypriot breakfast is called “mpoukkoma” and it is a very extravagant meal, after all it is the most important meal of the day! Eggs, freshly baked bread, halloumi, sausages and a plethora of vegetables are only some of the things included in this lush meal. Halloumi and watermelon for breakfast this morning.

What food is Cyprus famous for?

17 Traditional Cypriot Foods You Will Love

• 1 – Halloumi (Cheese made from goat’s and/or sheep’s milk)
• 2 – Kleftiko (Roasted lamb meat)
• 3 – Souvlaki (Barbecued meat)
• 4 – Tarhana (Dried mixture of yoghurt, milk and wheat)
• 5 – Moussaka (Eggplant filled with meat and potato)
• 6 – Sheftalies (Meatballs)

Is ouzo good for your stomach?

In addition to sipping on ouzo along with mezes, the national drink of Greece has healing properties as well. It is known to ease an upset stomach, relieve a headache, and alleviate teething pains in infants. The terpenes in ouzo have anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant activity protecting cells from disease.

Does ouzo make you hallucinate?

It’s now known that while thujone can mess with your head—it can actually block GABA receptors and cause convulsions when taken in quantity—it does not cause hallucinations.

What’s the old fashioned way to make zivania?

The production of Zivania with the “old-fashioned” way is described below: Inside a large black distillation apparatus called a “kasani”, the grapes are being boiled. This creates bubbles and the bubbles create steam.

What is the alcohol content of zivania wine?

Its average content in alcohol is 45%. There is no sugar in it and no acidity. Zivania is made with the residue of grapes that were pressed during the winemaking process, that are mixed with dry wines produced by the local varieties of Cypriot grapes.

What kind of grapes are used to make zivania?

Traditionally, zivania was made with the local grapes in Cyprus, these being the “xinisteri” and “mavro” grapes. At Kalamos Winery, the “zivania” is made with the white grape “malaga”, otherwise commonly known as “muscat of alexandria”.

How are the different types of zivania distilled?

There are mainly three types of distillation processes: Distillation of wine. Distilling pomace and wine mixture. According to the different distillation process, there are different qualities of zivania. Zivania is usually stored in clean wooden or galvanized metallic crates that can be closed in order to block the evaporation.