The famous Riga Balsam: reviews, history and interesting facts

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

For many years, Rigas Balzams has been one of the "landmarks" of Latvia and, perhaps, the main souvenir bought by guests of the country. The famous alcoholic drink with a rich bittersweet taste belongs to the category of beaters and is produced in special ceramic containers that reliably protect the contents of the bottle from temperature and light changes. The original purpose of the product was to use it as a tonic healing drink.

The history of the famous Riga Balsam

A pharmacist with Jewish roots Abram Kuntze came to Russia in the 40s from Germany (according to other sources from Poland). Initially, his profession was listed as a bookseller. At the same time, the city government issued a number of measures relating to pharmacies and drug manufacturers - the rules determined not only prices, but also regulated the quantitative norms for the sale of alcohol and other goods. By the way, the pharmacy of that time was considered a universal place: surgical operations were performed here, people cameget a haircut, a shave and, of course, a he alth syrup.

Kunze also had to obey the law. Already in 1762, having taken care of his pharmaceutical project, he creates an ad with the following content:

It is useful in various cases, both for fever, gastric colic, toothache and headache, burns, frostbite and dislocations, as well as for tumors, poisonous bites, broken arms and legs, especially with closed, stab and chopped wounds. He heals the most dangerous wounds in five, at most six days.

Despite the high-profile advertising, the business did not flourish for a long time. The turning point was the arrival of Empress Catherine II, namely, a serious pain in her stomach, when she stopped at the house of one ratman. Her attending physician could not help, the life of the Empress hung in the balance. Then Kunze offered Rogerson his balm. Thanks to the drink, the Empress quickly recovered and left a laudatory review of the miracle elixir. This ad helped Abram Kuntze to become a leader in the fierce competition between pharmacists in Riga.

Composition of Riga Balsam

Today it is known that the recipe of an alcoholic drink includes specially prepared water, 24 ingredients, the main of which are:

• grain ethyl alcohol (high purity);
• blueberries;
• Peruvian balsam oil;
• cognac;
• natural honey flavor;
• ginger;
• lingonberries;
• raspberries;
• lime blossom;
• St. John's wort
• plant extracts;
• sugar.

Despite the fact that all the ingredients have long been known, the exact recipe is still kept in the strictest confidence. According to representatives of Latvijas balzams, only three people know how to prepare the national drink: the master of the liquor shop and two of his apprentices.

According to reviews of Rigas Balsam, its taste qualities are always maintained at a high level and all thanks to strict adherence to production technology and the use of only high-quality raw materials. For example, birch buds, which are also included in the composition, are collected exclusively from Latvian birches growing on the territory of the Kemeri Reserve.

At the initial stage, the prepared infusion is aged for 30 days in oak barrels. A month later, a bitter essence (45%) is obtained, the share of which in the finished product will be only 4%. Later it is mixed with juices, alcohol and brandy. Add honey and burnt sugar. The last ingredient gives the balm its characteristic black color. Then the finished alcoholic drink is poured into ceramic bottles and aged for six months. Remarkably, clay containers have not changed their appearance for more than a century. It not only protects the contents from the sun and temperature extremes, but is also a tribute to a long tradition.

Healing properties

As you already know, initially the balm was positioned as an elixir for all diseases. Despite the fact that the original recipe is gradually changing, over manyFor centuries, the beneficial effect of the drink on the body has been repeatedly confirmed.

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of the Riga Balsam and its healing properties. It helps with colds, depression, loss of strength. Many drink the drink for preventive purposes and are used for rheumatism. The herbs included in the composition help to treat cholelithiasis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It also slows down the aging of the body and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.

Views

Today, the main Latvian balm manufacturer Latvijas balzams produces 4 versions of the famous elixir:

• "Riga Black" is a classic drink known in Europe since 1752. The product with a strength of 45% has medicinal properties, has received worldwide recognition and has received numerous awards. Produced in bottles from 0.04 l. up to three liters.
• "Element". Of all the existing ones, perhaps only he retained the quality and uniqueness of the original recipe. Based on the preferences of consumers, the company's specialists had to slightly change the list of ingredients of the drink.

• "Currant Riga Balsam". Reviews about him are mostly laudatory, and this despite the fact that they began to release it quite recently. The product with a strength of 30% is made on the basis of a classic balm with the addition of ginger and blackcurrant juice. It has a pleasant taste and delicate aroma. In 2011, the product at the prestigiousinternational competition The Liqueur Maste won 2 awards at once: silver for taste (category "Herbal liqueurs and balms") and gold for original packaging and design.
• Riga Black Balsam Cream 17% ABV with creamy notes and vanilla-caramel smell.

How to drink

Use it both in pure form and in cocktails. Reviews of the Riga Balsam also recommend adding it to coffee or tea, or serving it in a separate small glass, as is done in Latvia. The drink is especially useful if consumed with green tea.

Pretty good combination with other types of alcohol. For example, locals add it to beer, brandy, cognac and other fortified drinks. However, gourmets prefer not to "spoil" the taste and use the balm in its pure form from a special liquor glass and always in one gulp. This is how you can feel the warming effect.

Latvians are not averse to experimenting, so they often add the traditional drink to milk, sweets, ice cream and other desserts. Young people love to mix it with cola, champagne and even tomato juice!

Cocktails

• Signature: mix 1:2 blackcurrant juice with Riga Balsam. Reviews recommend drinking it slightly warm.
• Black Cranberry: Add 1 part local drink to 4 parts cranberry juice.
• Black Energy: Mix traditional balm with any energy drink to make a cocktailin a ratio of 1:4. Be sure to add ice.

Black mojito: As the name suggests, we are going to prepare a refreshing but alcoholic drink. Combine a glass of Rigas Balsam with four parts of Sprite. Add fruit juice to taste and garnish with half a lime. Don't forget to add crushed ice at the end

Where to buy and prices

Reviews about Riga Balsam recommend buying a drink in one of the specialized stores of Latvijas balzams or in large supermarkets. The points of the official manufacturer can be easily recognized by the brown inscription on a yellow background. For example, in Old Riga they are located at:

• Valnu, 21;
• Shkyunyu, 16;
• Audeyu 8;
• Smilshu, 16.

The cost depends on the capacity of the container and ranges from 230 to 750 rubles. When buying more than 10,000 rubles, a 10% discount is provided. The promotion applies only to purchases in company stores.

Back to the past

Knowing almost everything (and even more) about the national drink of Latvians, it would be a sin not to visit another attraction of the capital - the Riga Black Magic bar. Reviews about the "Magic of the Riga Balsam" say: the place is so attractive that you want to come back here and once again, having heard the history of the drink, try its different variations, plunging into the atmosphere of the 18th century. Stylized as an old pharmacy, the bar is located in the same building where Abram Kuntze's establishment was located more than three hundred years ago. In a secret laboratorycurious tourists are shown the secrets of cooking the famous black Rigas Balsam. The path here lies through a large wooden secret door disguised as a bookcase. You go down the creaky stairs and … for two hours you watch the amazing performance of Elena and Gennady Palchevsky dedicated to the balm. At the end, everyone will have a tasting of the drink in its pure form or with cocktails.

Special pride of the institution is a recreated illusion of evocation of spirits. Guess who will appear in front of you during the performance? Well, of course, Abram Kuntze!

By the way, in Riga Black Magic you can not only drink, but also enjoy the taste of wonderful desserts. There is a chocolate workshop nearby, where master classes on making handmade cakes and sweets are often held.