Rakia (also Rakija or Raki) is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by distillation of fermented fruit; it is a popular beverage throughout the Balkans. Its alcohol content is normally 40% ABV, but home-produced rakia can be stronger (typically 50% to 60%). Prepečenica is double-distilled rakia which has an alcohol content that may exceed 60%.
Rakia is considered to be the national drink among Albanian and South Slavic people. Common flavours are slivovica, produced from plums, Kajsijevaca, produced from apricots and lozovaca, made from grapes. Fruits less commonly used are peaches, apples, pears, cherry, figs, and quinces. Popular home made variants in Macedonia, Bulgaria and Serbia is rakija produced from mixed fruits. In the Istrian and Dalmatian regions of Croatia, rakia tends to be home-made exclusively from grapes, where the drink is also known locally as trapa or grappa (the latter name also being used in Italy). In Albania rakia can be made out of grapes (mostly in mild climate regions) or out of plum (and sometimes out of mulberry) in colder climate areas. Plum and grape rakia are sometimes mixed with other ingredients, such as herbs, honey, sour cherries and walnuts, after distillation.
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