What to Drink in Romania – A Guide on Traditional Romanian Drinks

I really enjoyed writing this article about the traditional Romanian drinks, including my suggestions on what to drink in Romania. I remembered so many delicious drinks that I really miss, such as the sour cherry juice, or the autumn fairs where I could drink ‘must’ – a celebration of the grapes being picked, squeezed, and ready to be made into wine.

There are many delicious drinks in Romania, both soft and alcoholic. Reading this article you will find out some surprising Romanian drinks that you didn’t know the country produces, but also discover other beverages that are new to you.

So, let’s dig into it! What to drink in Romania?

Traditional Romanian Soft Drinks:

Sirop de Fructe – Fruit Syrup

When I was growing up, fruit syrup was a very popular drink in our household. It was inexpensive to buy and one bottle would last for a very long time. When I would join my grandparents for their spa break every year, we would often go for walks in the afternoon in the nearby forest, and return back to the hotel with fir buds, which were then made into one of the most popular natural anti-cough syrups in Romania.

Most of the syrup in Romania is fruit based. You can buy it or make it at home – as it’s very easy to prepare. To drink the fruit syrup, all you have to do is pour a little quantity of it in a glass, and top with sparkling water. It is a bit like an English cordial, but it tastes much better because it’s natural instead of made from concentrate and flavourings.  

Suc de Visine – Sour Cherry Juice

I feel that sour cherries are a more Eastern European fruit, which I absolutely love. I used to have my own sour cherry tree in my garden when I was growing up, and I still remember those wonderful summer afternoons when I would climb on top of the garage to eat the fruits straight from the tree. I craved sour cherries so much after I moved to the UK as they don’t seem to be popular here. I never found them in the supermarket or in the farmer’s markets. I love them so much that now I have two sour cherry trees in my garden, which delight me with their fruits about two weeks a year.

The sour cherry juice is very popular in Romania. Is tangy but still sweet and tastes so refreshing, especially if it is homemade. Whilst orange or apple juices are popular in Romania as well, there’s nothing better than a glass of sour cherry juice. Try it and you will understand why.

Socata – Homemade Elderflower Juice

Elderflower juice is a very popular Romanian drink during spring time, when the elderflower is in full bloom. Many people make their own elderflower juice at home, after foraging for it in the woods. Making this juice at home is very easy and results in a delicious refreshing drink that you can drink on its own or use as a mixer.

Homemade elderflower juice doesn’t last for a long time, and this is why it is popular only during spring time. To make it, all you have to do is put the flowers inside a big jar alongside water, sliced lemons and sugar. You have to leave the elderflower juice to ferment, for a few days. The end result is fizzy, refreshing, and pretty delicious.

Click here to read my socata recipe.

Nectar de Fructe – Fruit Nectar

Nectar, what a beautiful word! It makes me think of Ancient Greece and Aphrodite enjoying her luxurious drink. And as well as the word, the Romanian fruit Nectar is a delight. It is made from fruits and has a creamy, soft texture. Usually, the nectar is made from fruits such as peaches, apricots, nectarines, pears, and sometimes even apples. Sometimes you will find the nectar in restaurants, but most of the time you can buy it in supermarkets and shops, in card boxes, in the soft drinks sections. One of the most popular brands is Cappy.  

Limonada – Lemonade

There is nothing more refreshing in summer than a homemade lemonade. Whilst in the UK lemonade is synonymous with Sprite, in Romania it is a totally different drink. The cafes and restaurants usually make it fresh, to order.

The lemonade is made by squeezing lemons, mint and sugar or honey together, mixing them well to combine, and topping up with fizzy water. It is served with slices of lemon and springs of mint to decorate the glass.

Ceai – Tea

Romania is a big tea consumer. But not the classic green or black. On the contrary, the tea drunk in Romania is mostly herbal or fruit based. There is tea for everything – no matter how you feel. We have medicinal teas, fruit teas, as well as all ranges to “how you feel” teas: sleepy, energetic, relaxed, etc. Practically there is a tea for every time of the day, for every emotion, and for every body ache out there.

There are plenty of people, especially in the countryside, who make their own tea by foraging. One of the most popular homemade teas is the Linden flower tea, which is known to help with anxiety, digestive issues, as well as relaxation in general. Linden trees are widely spread around the country.

Another popular drink in Romania is ice tea. This is mostly based on fruits or mint, and again, you can make it yourself at home. It is a very popular choice in summer, at the outdoor terraces around the cities in Romania.

Traditional Romanian Alcoholic Drinks:

Tuica

Tuica is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Romania, that is mostly sold in farmers markets or made at home. Tuica is considered to be the national drink of Romania. It is a very strong alcoholic drink, sometimes even reaching an alcohol level of 80%. It is made from prunes, which are fermented for 6 to 8 weeks in wooden barrels. It is then distilled inside copper stills, using a wood fire. After that, the resulting liquid is left to age for a minimum of six months.

I personally don’t like Tuica, I find it very harsh and I feel that it burns your throat when you drink it. But I don’t really drink in general, other than wine. I do know a lot of people who love Tuica. The traditional way to drink it is to enjoy it as a digestive before the main meals, to increase your appetite. It is served in very small glasses and it is sipped rather than drunk as a shot.

Tuica is much stronger than Palinca, and it’s mostly produced for the family’s own consumption. If you visit relatives or friends in the countryside you will most likely be welcomed with a glass of Tuica.  

Palinca

Palinca is another very popular drink in Romania. It has its roots in the Mediaeval times, and was invented somewhere around the Carpathian Mountains. This is why it is a popular drink not just in Romania, but also around our neighbours such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It even has relatives in Greece and Austria!  

Palica is made by fermenting and then distilling fruits, with a minimum alcohol of 40%. The most common fruits used to make Palinca are prunes, pears and apricots. Less common, you can find Palinca made from quince, cherries, and even berries.

As Palinca is such a traditional drink, there are specific rules that must be followed when making it. The distillation has to be in copper stills with a direct natural source of fire, such as wood or coals.  

Visinata – Sour Cherry Liquor

My mom used to make Visinata every year, at home. She would make about 5 litres in summer, and enjoy it over the entire winter. Visinata is a fragrant sour cherry liquor, made by macerating the fruits with sugar and unflavoured pure alcohol. The concoction is then left to infuse for the next two months or so in a dark and cold place, before it’s ready to be drunk. Usually this type of drink is made in a demijohn, a bulb shaped vessel with a long and narrow neck, usually closed with a cork. Sometimes the demijohn has a wicker cover.  

Sour cherry liquor is sweet and has an aromatic taste. It is usually served in a fancy small tulip shaped glass that sometimes has decorations on it.

People make this type of liquor from other fruits as well, such as strawberries, blueberries, and even raspberries, but the sour cherry is the most popular.

Bere – Beer

Romania is a large beer producer as well, with the most popular type being the lager. Beer is the most consumed alcoholic drink in Romania as well.

The first historical notes about the beer production in Romania come from the 14^th century. It is believed that the craft of making beer started in Transylvania, and was influenced by the arrival of Saxons in the area.

Besides the classic mass produced beer, Romania also has a new craft beer scene that has been growing over the past few years, especially in Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, and Timisoara.

My personal favourite Romanian beer is Ursus, a light and very refreshing lager, especially during the hot summer days. Ciuc is also a great brand, especially for their dark beer varieties. Another renowned and very popular brand is Timisoreana.

Must – Alcoholic Grape Juice

I always loved the harvest dedicated fairs, in autumn, because that’s where the local farmers would come with their barrels of fresh must. And you can’t keep the must, it’s impossible to bottle and even to keep in a bottle with a lid on for a long time because it is a drink that ferments.

Must is the drink that is produced from the crushing of the grapes, just before it starts to ferment. It is a fantastic drink that tastes sweet and has a slight fizz due to the start of the fermentation process. It’s delicious and more so, it is considered to be very healthy due to the number of antioxidants and vitamins in it.

However, you can’t keep the must – you either drink it, or leave it in the barrel to ferment and transform into wine. The must has a tiny but negligible alcohol level, a maximum of 1%.   

Vin – Wine

You may not know this but Romanian is a large wine producer and has one of the oldest wine-making traditions in the world. In 2020, a study made by the EU showed that Romania was the fourth largest wine producer in the Union, after Spain, France, and Italy. More than 50 wines are protected by the EU and are under the PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) regulations.

Romanian cultivates both native grape species, as well as popular types such as Merlot, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Some of the native white grapes varieties are Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Cramposie, the red ones are Feteasca Neagra, and the aromatic, dessert ones are Tamaioasa Romaneasca and Busuioaca de Bohotin.

Whilst 20 years ago Romanian wine wasn’t known much outside of the country’s borders, now it is available more and more in Europe, and awarded at international competitions. More and more boutique state or the art vineyards have been opened during the past few years as well.  

For more similar articles, check out the ones below:

• The most delicious traditional Romanian food
• The most delicious Romanian soups
• The most delicious classic Romanian cakes
• Romanian Peach Kompot recipe

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