What to drink in Hungary

Hungary has a vast array of alcoholic beverages including quality wines and beers, as well as liqueurs and brandies that are made exclusively in the country.

Here are a few suggestions of various drinks to try.

 Egészségedre! (Cheers!)

Pálinka

Produced in both Hungary and Transylvania, this traditional brandy is made from various kinds of fruit such as plums, pears, apricots, mulberries or quinces.  It is consumed at all hours of the day, but is particularly popular as an after work or after dinner drink. A must try!

Wine

Hungary is famous for its excellent wines. There are 22 distinct wine regions across the country which produce the full spectrum of wine styles including reds, whites, roses, and sparkling wines. Tokaji Aszu, which comes from the Tokaj region, is Hungary most famous wine and is even mentioned in the Hungarian national anthem. Other wines include full-bodied, robust reds from Villány-Siklós and Szekszárd, while Somló and Badacsony is regarded for its mineral rich whites.

Beer

Although Hungary is better known as a wine-producing country, beer has been made here for over a thousand years and the country has a significant history of commercial beer production. Top domestic brands include Arany Ászok, Kobányai (the first commercial brewery in Hungary that was established in Buda in 1845), Borsodi, Soproni and Dreher. A number of small microbreweries have also emerged in recent years.

Spritzer

Spritzer also known as fröccs in Hungarian, is a popular drink in Hungary that is mixed from wine and soda water in varying proportions. The most common is the basic classic, known as the “nagy“, or large, fröccs. This is a mix of two parts wine to one part soda water, a third of a litre in size. Fröccs is especially ideal for the summer.

Unicum

This traditional bitter liqueur has been produced by the Zwach family for over 150 years. It is a blend of 40 different herbs, based on an old secret recipe. Unicum is sold in a characteristic bomb-shaped bottle which features a golden cross on the front. Usually drunk as an apéritif, Unicum is an acquired taste.

 

 

Related posts:

1. Unicum
2. Noble rot: Hungary’s unlikely discovery
3. Hungary and Slovakia battle over Tokaji Wine
4. Best authentic souvenirs from Hungary
5. Hungary’s Wine Regions

Tags: Budapest, Featured, hungarian drinks, palinka, Tokaji, unicum, Wine

Category: Beer, Spirits, Wine