Balzam
Encyclopedia
Balsam (drink)
Balsam is a term used to describe a variety of traditional Eastern European herbal, high alcohol content liqueurs originally used for medicinal purposes.-Examples:* Riga Black Balsam* Ukrainian Balsam* Krasnaya Polyana Balsam* Karelian Balsam...
is a traditional Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n herbal liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
made with many different natural ingredients mixed in pure vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
, giving a 45% abv
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
(90 proof) drink. It can be had as it is, on the rocks
Ice cube
Ice cubes are small, roughly cube-shaped pieces of ice, conventionally used to cool beverages. Ice cubes are often preferred over crushed ice because they melt more slowly; they are standard in mixed drinks that call for ice, in which case the drink is said to be "on the rocks."Ice cubes are...
or mixed with schnapps
Schnapps
Schnapps is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage. The English word schnapps is derived from the German Schnaps , which can refer to any strong alcoholic drink but particularly those containing at least 32% ABV...
, akvavit
Akvavit
Akvavit or aquavit is a traditional flavoured spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century....
, or vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
, or warm, in tea, coffee or black currant juice, or mixed with soda water or a soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
, or in any variety of cocktails. It is also occasionally enjoyed as a topping on ice-cream. The drink itself is black and very bitter, but with a distinct sweetness.
Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
Black Balsam is made by JSC Latvijas Balzams
Latvijas Balzams
Latvijas Balzams is a Latvian producer of alcoholic beverages. , it was the largest producer of alcoholic beverages in the Baltic states, and had about 50% market share in Latvia. It is the successor to the Latvian state alcohol producer, tracing its origins to the early 20th century and its name...
. The traditional recipe was created by Abraham Kunze, a pharmacist living in Riga, and is based on a composition of 24 different ingredients like plants, flowers, buds, juices, roots, oils and berries prepared in oak barrels. It is sold in ceramic hand-made flagons. Over time, experts from many countries have highly regarded the quality of Riga Black Balsam, and have given it more than 30 awards at international fairs .
Black Balsam is also used in traditional medicine. It is considered to be a good cold
Common cold
The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever...
remedy and is used to treat digestive problems. It has been made in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
since the middle of the 18th century. According to legend, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, became ill during a visit to Latvia, but was cured after drinking Riga Black Balsam.