{"id":911,"date":"2010-06-04T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2010-06-04T10:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=911"},"modified":"2014-07-17T13:11:52","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T13:11:52","slug":"juices-waters-and-bulgakov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/juices-waters-and-bulgakov\/","title":{"rendered":"Juices, Waters and Bulgakov"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

Do you know that most of Russia has \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u043a\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043c\u0430\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [a continental climate<\/a>]? This means very cold winters followed by short, but very warm dry summers with occasional temperatures \u201ccharacteristic of tropical climates\u201d.<\/p>\n

June\u2019s barely begun and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u043c\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [temperature] is already in the lower 30ies in my native Volgograd. Josefina\u2019s second home, Yekaterinburg, is expected to stay in the mid- to high 20ies through the weekend. (Don\u2019t forget to practice your metric \u00a0conversions; the temperatures above are in degrees Celsius)<\/p>\n

So what do Russians drink on those hot summer afternoons, when \u00ab\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f, \u0438 \u0441\u0438\u043b \u043d\u0435<\/span> \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u0434\u044b\u0448\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044c, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u0441\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u043d\u0446\u0435, \u0440\u0430\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0432 \u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0443<\/span>, \u0432 \u0441\u0443\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u043c \u0442\u0443\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435 \u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u043a\u0443\u0434\u0430<\/span>-\u0442\u043e \u0437\u0430 \u0421\u0430\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0435 \u043a\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0446\u043e<\/span>…\u00bb <\/strong>[\u2026no one, it seemed, had the strength to breath, when the sun had left Moscow scorched to a crisp and was collapsing in a dry haze somewhere behind the Sadovoye Ring\u2026]<\/p>\n

By the way, \u00ab\u0412\u044b \u0443\u0436\u0435<\/span> \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u0435 \u041c\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0430 \u0438 \u041c\u0430\u0440\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0443?\u00bb<\/strong> [have you started reading Master and Margarita]. If yes, you\u2019ll be familiar with the quote above. You\u2019d also know that the hapless Berlioz, the editor of a literary magazine, wanted to quench his thirst with \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0440\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> while his young companion, poet Ivan Bezdomny, asked for \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [beer].<\/p>\n

Neither got what he wanted and both settled for something called \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0431\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0432\u0430\u044f\u00bb <\/strong>[apricot-flavored] which was warm and foamy (doesn\u2019t sound very appetizing, does it?).<\/p>\n

Curiously, in our little informal Facebook poll on the subject of refreshing summer drinks, neither \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0440\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> nor \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0431\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0432\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> were mentioned. Instead, the most popular drink was \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> [kvas<\/a>, fermented bread drink].<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never tried kvas or don\u2019t know much about it, you can check out a Wikipedia entry (English<\/a> or Russian<\/a>). But if you don\u2019t care to read either of these, then here are 5 quick facts about kvas:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> is the summer drink of choice in Russia with sales far outstripping those of \u00a0\u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [carbonated drinks].<\/li>\n
  2. The verb \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> has two meanings directly related to \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb<\/strong>. One is to ferment, usually in relations to preserving veggies or making bread, i.e. \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043a\u0430\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [fermented or sour cabbage] and \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [starter or leavening]. The other meaning of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> is to get drunk.<\/li>\n
  3. But don\u2019t waste time trying to get drunk on \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb<\/strong>. Alcohol content of bread kvas is only about 1% and fruit and berry kvases have no alcohol in them at all. Of course, back in the good old days, 11th<\/sup> century or about, kvas was much stronger and heavier than beer. The trees were also taller and the sky was a brighter shade of blue.<\/li>\n
  4. Drinking \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> improves digestion, balances metabolism, strengthens cardio-vascular system and acts as an energy drink of sorts (as they say in Russia, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> [lit. elevates one\u2019s tissue tension].<\/li>\n
  5. The best \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> is from \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u044f <\/strong>\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [a kvas barrel]. Painted bright yellow, they are a common site on Russian streets in the summer. (Although there are always \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0448\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [scary urban legends] about maggots and rats in the barrels, and the scariest of it all, the money-hungry sellers watering down their \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0432\u0430\u0441\u00bb, <\/strong>\u00a0thus making it absolutely unusable for \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u043a\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [cold kvas-based soup].<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Shame on me, I haven\u2019t tried making my own kvas yet. But I will shortly since it\u2019s supposed to be a very simple process. Once I test the recipe and the technique, I\u2019ll definitely share with you. For now we are all stuck with bottled kvas sold at Russian stores and online.<\/p>\n

    If bottled kvas isn\u2019t your thing (can\u2019t blame you), but you still want an authentic Russian experience, let\u2019s move on to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [carbonated drinks]. I\u2019ll skip obviously Western colas and instead talk about two main types of Russian \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \u00ab<\/strong>\u0413\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u0430\u00bb <\/strong>[carbonated drink without syrup] – that\u2019s just plain water with fizzy bubbles in it. You can make it at home from a glass of tap water and a contraption called \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u0444\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [soda siphon].<\/p>\n

    \u00ab<\/strong>\u0413\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [carbonated drink with syrup] is just a bit fancier and still totally DIY-able. Just add a bit of syrup to your glass. Or buy a bottle of gold-colored \u00ab<\/strong>\u0411\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong>, pear-flavored \u00ab<\/strong>\u0414\u044e\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u00bb<\/strong>, lemon-lime flavored clear \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u043e\u043b\u043e\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u0447\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong>, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0422\u0430\u0440\u0445\u0443<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> (my favorite for its deep green color and tarragon flavor] or any other sugary concoction.<\/p>\n

    By the way, \u00ab<\/strong>\u0430\u0431\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u043e\u0432\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> drank by Berlioz and Bezdomny (you haven\u2019t forgotten about them, have you?), was a type of apricot-flavored \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u00bb.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    It is well-understood that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> is not a healthy choice. \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b <\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u0442 <\/strong>\u0443\u0433\u043b\u0435\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Juices and waters carry carbohydrates]. That\u2019s probably why \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u044b\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [prudent] Berlioz first asked for \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0440\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> – a fizzy mineral water. Narzan<\/a> is still widely sold in Russia and, along with other syrup-free weakly- and strongly-carbonated mineral waters, is claimed to have medicinal qualities.<\/p>\n

    Another word for \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0448\u0438\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u043a\u0430\u00bb <\/strong>[fizzy drink] – a great example of onomatopoeia. Another word, the one you might come across in Russian literature (particularly, in children\u2019s books), but that\u2019s outdated is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u0438\u0442\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [lit: citron, lemonade].<\/p>\n

    Other Russian summer drinks include various \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [juices], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u0440\u0441\u00bb<\/strong> [watered-down and sugared juice], and \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043c\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u00bb<\/strong> [a cold drink made by boiled fruits and berries with some sugar].<\/p>\n

    Is plain water popular? Well, even though the signs at the juice- and soda-counters in Russia read \u00ab<\/strong>\u0421\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Juices and waters], the later refers to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u0430\u0437\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [carbonated water] of all kinds, not to the good old water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

    Do you know that most of Russia has \u00ab\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u043b\u0438\u043c\u0430\u0442\u00bb [a continental climate]? This means very cold winters followed by short, but very warm dry summers with occasional temperatures \u201ccharacteristic of tropical climates\u201d. June\u2019s barely begun and \u00ab\u0442\u0435\u043c\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0443\u0440\u0430\u00bb [temperature] is already in the lower 30ies in my native Volgograd. Josefina\u2019s second home, Yekaterinburg, is expected…<\/p>\n

    Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,7827],"tags":[1018,9246,9247,8289,1328],"class_list":["post-911","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-russian-life","tag-bulgakov","tag-kvas","tag-master-and-margarita","tag-russian-drinks","tag-summer-in-russia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11307,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911\/revisions\/11307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}