Turkish Boza drink: recipe, history, drinking rules

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

It is believed that the recipe for the drink Boza has been known since ancient Egypt. Then it was prepared from soaked bread, which was left to ferment for some time. Turkey is a country of Islam, and Muslims are forbidden to drink alcohol. Despite religious prohibitions that impose restrictions on life, Muslim Turks willingly use boza. During the fermentation process, a small amount of alcohol is present in the drink - approximately 4 - 6%.

Drink history

It is believed that one of the Sultans was the inventor of the Boza drink recipe in Turkey. He led many military campaigns, including for the faith. Therefore, it seems strange to many how a deeply religious ruler could invent such a drink. Already in the 17th century, bosa becomes quite popular. Only in the capital of the Ottoman Empire there were more than 300 shops where they sold it.

What is a bosa?

This is not a very liquid drink, similar in consistency to sour cream. It tastes sweet and sour, a bit like beer. The alcohol formed during the fermentation process adds a little acidity, like kefir.

The drink contains B vitamins, vitaminsA, E, C, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus. It has a very low percentage of alcohol, so bosa is not harmful to he alth. The drink is very useful for those who have a lack of vitamins and minerals. It strengthens the immune system, improves well-being, improves mood. It is given even to nursing mothers to speed up the process of milk formation. Boza is useful for athletes and people of physical labor, so it perfectly restores strength after physical exertion. In addition, it can be included in the diet menu.

Who drinks sourdough and when?

The original recipe for bose in those days was loved not only by ordinary citizens of Turkey, but also by soldiers. The troops of this country were one of the strongest armies in the world, which terrified all European countries. The drink not only did not harm the he alth and physical condition of the military, but contributed to the improvement of physical fitness due to its nutritional value.

Because boza is fermented according to the recipe, the heat in Turkey prevents it from fermenting in summer. At high temperatures, the bose will simply go sour and lose its unique taste. Therefore, this drink is considered winter, it is produced only in cold weather. After opening the bottle, the boza should not be stored for a long time, it should be drunk immediately.

Homemade bosa recipe

Boza is easy to make. The most important thing is to keep the proportions of the ingredients and not violate the cooking technology.

You will need the following products:

• oatmeal - 600 grams;
• water - 7 liters;
• yeast - 30grams;
• butter - 100 grams;
• wheat flour - 50 grams;
• sugar - 500 grams.

Cooking method:

1. Preparation of oatmeal. First you need to pour oatmeal with a small amount of cold water and leave to swell. Then they are filtered through a sieve. The water is drained, and the remaining thick mass is distributed on a baking sheet. A sheet of oatmeal is placed in the oven for a short time so that the mass dries out a little.
2. Kneading dough. Oven-dried flakes should be ground to a flour state with kitchen utensils. Then they are mixed with wheat flour. Melted butter, half a liter of hot water are added to the dough. After the base for the bose should be covered with a clean towel or lid and left for half an hour. During this time, she has time to cool down.
3. Kneading a drink from Turkey. The bose recipe (the photo of the drink is presented in the article) involves the gradual addition of two liters of warm water to the thick dough. But the mass should not be hot, maximum room temperature. Yeast diluted in warm water and a glass of sugar are added to the resulting mixture. The solution is left for 2 hours to start the fermentation process.
4. The final stage. After the mixture begins to ferment, the remaining water is added in portions, mixed thoroughly and the solution is filtered. After that, the remaining sugar is added and the drink is left to ferment in a warm place. After the process is completed, the drink has a pleasant pale yellow hue, a bit reminiscent ofcondensed milk. The taste is incredible, and there are a lot of useful properties.

How do people drink boza in the East?

Despite the fact that the drink is quite liquid, they prefer to eat it with a spoon. In Turkey, it is topped with cinnamon and roasted nuts. Use immediately after production. If he stands a little, he will quickly lose his excellent qualities. In addition, the Turks recommend having a drink with a traditional Turkish pastry called boman-boza, the recipe of which has been known since antiquity.

Turks drink a drink in special cafes, which are called by the name of the drink - bozakhane. Since Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, it was often not the Muslim Turks, but the Albanians who were engaged in making the bose in Istanbul. At the same time, ancient Turkish establishments selling this drink, founded at the end of the 19th century, still exist in many districts of the capital, giving a unique flavor to its quarters.

Some sultans tried to fight against the use of this leaven. Especially strong persecution began after opium was added to the drink. But as soon as the sultan left the capital, the locals again actively used the bose.

How often can I drink a drink?

He althy national drink of the Turks is quite easy to prepare at home. It consists of familiar ingredients that you can buy from us. It is enough just to carefully study the recipe for bose and cook according to the instructions. Do not abuse the drink, because it still containsalcohol. Homemade bose is recommended to drink 2-3 times a week.