Slivovitz

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Various bottles of Slivovitz
Various bottles of Slivovitz

Slivovitz is a distilled beverage made from Damson plums.[1] It is frequently called plum brandy[2] and is part of the category of drinks called rakia.

Contents

Origin

Although the exact origins of slivovitz are unknown, it is believed to have been first produced in the Balkans[3] (possibly in Croatia,[4][5] Serbia,[6][7] Moravia,[8][9] Czechoslovakia,[10] Hungary[10] or Bulgaria[10]).

Production and consumption

Slivovitz is primarily produced in Slavic regions of Central and Eastern Europe, both commercially as well as by many households on an informal, homemade basis. Primary producing nations include the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia.[11] It is most popularly consumed in those nations, as well as wherever communities of expatriate from these nations exist. Similar plum brandies are also produced in Switzerland, France, the United States, and Canada, but marketed under other names, such as brandy, Pflümli, or eau de vie.

Distilling process

In the manufacturing process, the plums and a liberal proportion of the ground kernels are first crushed and pressed, then starch and sugar are added to the juice and the mixture is allowed to ferment. Distillation gives the crude product, and clarifying processes complete the liqueur, but aging is required to develop its finer qualities. Its pleasing flavor is due largely to the plum kernels, which contain a considerable percentage of amygdalin, the characteristic component of bitter almonds.[1]

Some producers have obtained a Hechsher for their slivovitz, certifying that it is kosher.[12]

Imitation slivovitz is made by flavoring spirits with prune juice and artificial oil of bitter almonds.[1]

Producers

Bulgaria

  • Troyanska Slivova (owned by Rudolf Jelínek)[13]
  • Tetevenska Slivova (owned by Rudolf Jelínek)[14]
  • Lesidrenska Slivova[15]
  • Elenska Slivova (owned by the Lyaskovets winery) [16]

Croatia

Czech Republic

Hungary

Italy

Poland

Serbia

Slovakia

United States

  • Black Star Farms[28]
  • Clear Creek Distillery[29]
  • Peach Street Distillers[30]
  • Stringer's Orchard[31]

In popular culture

Croatian Šljivovica and Slovenian Slivovka, two different names for the same drink
Croatian Šljivovica and Slovenian Slivovka, two different names for the same drink

In the 1990 film Avalon it is mentioned as the only thing that the patriarch of the family would drink after he emigrated to America.[32]

The group Andra Generationen participated in the Swedish music contest Melodifestivalen 2008 with a song called "Kebabpizza Slivovitza."[33]

Slivovitz is offered to Jonathan Harker in Dracula.[34]

In Mart Crowley's play The Boys in the Band, slivovitz is used as an example of the banality of self indulgence. "Hate tequila, what about slivovitz? Tired of boys, what about girls? Or what about boys and girls mixed and in what combination?"citation needed

References

  1. ^ a b c Ward, Artemas (1911). "Slivovitz". The Grocer's Encyclopedia. 567. Retrieved on 2008-05-30. 
  2. ^ Haraksimová, Erna; Rita Mokrá and Dagmar Smrčinová (2006). "slivovica". Anglicko-slovenský a slovensko-anglický slovník. Praha: Ottovo nakladatelství. 775. ISBN 80-7360-457-4. 
  3. ^ Lennox, Doug (2003). "Food & Drink", Now you know. Toronto: Dundurn, 102. ISBN 9781550026481. OCLC 52455722. 
  4. ^ (1965) The World and its peoples: Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland. New York: Greystone Press, 33. LCCN 65-20542. OCLC 399998. "Slivovitz is a brandy made from plums which originated in Croatia." 
  5. ^ Porter, Darwin; Danforth Prince (2005). Frommer's Vienna & the Danube Valley. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 230. ISBN 0764597175. OCLC 60397040 60649498. "Two of the most famous and favored liqueurs among Austrians are slivovitz (a plum brandy that originated in Croatia) and barack (made from apricots)." 
  6. ^ Bruce, Dave (1980). "Dining Discoveries". Home & Away in Kentucky: 14. American Automobile Association. Retrieved on 2008-09-16. “To get things started, have a round or two of Slivovitz (Serbian plum brandy)…” 
  7. ^ Branigan, James Joseph; Harold Reginald Jarrett (1975). "Serbia", The Mediterranean Lands. Michigan: Macdonald & Evans. ISBN 0-7121-1367-3. OCLC 60004517. page # needed
  8. ^ Wilson, Neil (2005). Prague. Lonely Planet, 16. ISBN 1-74059-758-3. OCLC 58434605. "The fiery and potent slivovice (plum brandy) is said to have originated in Moravia…" 
  9. ^ Warren, Matt; Neal Bedford; Jane Rawson (2004). Czech & Slovak republics. Lonely Planet, 65. ISBN 1-74104-046-9. OCLC 56466554. "Slivovice is a fiery, potent plum brandy said to have originated in Moravia…" 
  10. ^ a b c Arthey, David; P. R. Ashurst (1996). Fruit processing. London: Blackie Academic & Professional, 129. ISBN 0-7514-0039-4. OCLC 34116886. "Type: Slivovitz; Synonym: Plumb brandy; Country of origin: Former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria" 
  11. ^ Pokhlebkin, William (1992). "Appendix 5: The Raw Materials and Production Techniques of Other Principal Spirits of the World", A history of vodka. London: Verso Books, 206. ISBN 0-86091-359-7. OCLC 28183139. 
  12. ^ "Rudolf Jelínek: Kosher production". Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  13. ^ "Сливова ракия" (in Bulgarian). Винпром-Троян. Retrieved on 2008-08-15.
  14. ^ "Чехи купиха тетевенския винпром "Дестила"" (in Bulgarian). Дневник. Retrieved on 2008-08-15.
  15. ^ "Лесидренска сливова ракия" (in Bulgarian). Леседра. Retrieved on 2008-08-15.
  16. ^ "Our high sic alcoholic drinks". Lyaskovets Winery. Retrieved on 2008-08-19.
  17. ^ "Product range: spirits". Badel 1862. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  18. ^ "Company profile". Rudolf Jelínek. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  19. ^ "Slivovitz". Zufanek. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  20. ^ "Passover Slivovitz". Polmos Bielsko-Biała. Retrieved on 2008-09-16.
  21. ^ "Our products". Polmos Toruń. Retrieved on 2008-09-16.
  22. ^ "Flores". Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  23. ^ "Stefan Nemanja Serbian slivovitz". MadeInSerbia.co.yu. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  24. ^ "Navip products". Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  25. ^ "Stara Sokolova". Retrieved on 2008-09-11.
  26. ^ "Fruit Liquors". St. Nicolaus. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  27. ^ "Fruit Destilates". s52. Retrieved on 2008-09-01.
  28. ^ "Spirit of Plum". Black Star Farms. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  29. ^ "Additional Clear Creek Eaux de Vie". Clear Creek Distillery. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  30. ^ "Jack and Jenny Plum Brandy". Peach Street Distillers. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  31. ^ "Plum Brandy". Stringer's Orchard. Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
  32. ^ "Trivia for Avalon". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  33. ^ Viniker, Barry (2007-12-11). "Melodifestivalen line-up complete". esctoday. Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
  34. ^ Stoker, Bram [1897] (2007). Dracula. Forgotten Books, 11. ISBN 1-60506-003-8. "…the driver said in excellent German—'The night is chill, mein Herr, and my master the Count bade me take all care of you. There is a flask of slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, if you should require it.'" 

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 edition of The Grocer's Encyclopedia.

External links

See also

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  • This page was last modified on 8 October 2008, at 03:53.

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