Among alcoholic beverages, bitters have a special place. They attract with their unique grassy bouquet and sweet-bitter taste. In addition, these drinks can not only enjoy high-quality alcohol, but also have healing properties. “Karelian balsam”, produced by Russian enterprises from environmentally friendly raw materials collected in Karelia, is not the last in the category of alcoholic beverages. It consists of medicinal plants recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation as therapeutic. According to consumers, it not only improves digestion, but also helps strengthen the immune system, cure colds, strengthen nerves. However, in order to use the domestic bitter delivered only positive emotions, it is necessary to know how to drink “Karelian balm” correctly.
Drink Description
“Karelian balsam” is made from luxury ethyl alcohol, spring water, sugar, and 30 types of herbs, roots and other medicinal plants growing in Karelia. Unlike other bitters, its composition is not kept secret. It is known that it includes:
- chaga;
- Kalgan root;
- fruits of wild rose and bird cherry;
- oregano, clover, St. John's wort stalks;
- leaves of lingonberry, sage and plantain;
- alcohol fruit drinks from wild berries;
- honey;
- lime color;
- lemon ether;
- A variety of other ingredients.
In total, there are more than 30 components.
Despite the fact that the formulation of “Karelian balsam” is known, it is very difficult to make it outside of Russia, since the full range of necessary products can be found only in Karelia. The Russian bitter, produced under the name “Karelian balsam”, has no analogues. The fortress of “Karelian balsam” is quite high, is 45 degrees, so you need to drink it in moderation.
More than 150 ml per day of “Karelian balsam” is not recommended for another reason: it contains extracts of medicinal plants that seriously affect the body. And if in small doses, they are useful, then in large quantities can and do harm.
Usage Features
The rules for using “Karelian balsam” do not differ much from the recommendations regarding tasting other bitters. It can be taken in four ways.
- Real connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages with a grassy aroma and a bitter aftertaste prefer to drink “Karelian balm” in its pure form. The most suitable dishes for tasting bitters are liqueur glasses. Drink it slowly, in small sips, enjoying the complex taste and fragrance of herbs. Biting it, despite the high fortress, is not accepted. Some connoisseurs allow themselves to supplement the “Karelian balm” with a good cigar.
- If you like the taste and aroma of “Karelian balsam”, but you are not a fan of strong alcohol, you can use this bitter diluted. Most often it is diluted with cola or fruit juice. The most delicious combinations are obtained using cherry, cranberry, apple juice. The ratio is usually chosen 1: 2 (one part of a balm, two parts of a soft drink).
- People who take “Karelian Balsam” for medicinal purposes add it to tea or black coffee. A teaspoon per cup is quite enough, but some add 2-3 teaspoons to not only experience the healing properties of the drink, but also to enjoy its aroma.
- An interesting taste “Karelian balm” can add to alcoholic cocktails. Many people buy it precisely in order to mix it with other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
By combining “Karelian balm” with other drinks, you can get bright and unusual flavor combinations, but this will be a trial and error path that is difficult to pass without spoiling several servings of good alcohol. The presence of a large number of cocktail recipes with Karelian bitters allows you to abandon dubious experiments and immediately start cooking with him delicious and delicious mixes, time-tested.
Champagne-highball cocktail
Composition:
- dry or semi-dry champagne - 100 ml;
- “Karelian balsam” - 5 ml;
- sugar syrup - 5 ml;
- lemon - 1 slice.
Method of preparation:
- In a tall glass, place a slice of lemon.
- Mix balsam with sugar syrup, pour lemon over the mixture. Insist 15 minutes.
- Pour in the champagne and serve.
Cocktail prepared according to this recipe is easy to drink, especially for ladies. A mixture of the unique aroma of champagne and herbal notes of Karelian bitter can win the heart of many fans of unusual alcoholic cocktails.
Cocktail “Love Harmony”
Composition:
- dry white wine - 100 ml;
- orange juice - 25 ml;
- “Karelian balsam” - 5 ml;
- honey - 5 ml;
- lemon - 1/4 pcs .;
- cardamom - at the tip of the knife.
Method of preparation:
- Squeeze the juice out of a quarter lemon.
- Melt the honey to a liquid state.
- Mix honey with lemon juice, balm and cardamom.
- Pour into the bottom of the wine glass, pour dry wine.
Wonderful properties are attributed to this cocktail: there is an opinion that it fully justifies its name and helps to achieve harmony in love.
Cocktail “Petrozavodsk”
Composition:
- vodka (ideally Karelian) - 50 ml;
- tincture “Rowan on cognac” - 15 ml;
- “Karelian balsam” - 5 ml;
- canned fruit, ice - to taste.
Method of preparation:
- Drinks pour into a shaker glass, beat them together with ice, strain.
- Put canned fruits on the bottom of the cocktail glass, pour the prepared mixture.
Despite the romantic appearance, the drink made according to this recipe is quite strong, so men like it as much as the ladies.
“Karelian balsam” refers to the category of bitters. It is made on the basis of tincture on 30 Karelian herbs, roots, flowers and fruits, natural honey and other environmentally friendly ingredients. It has a unique bouquet and is able to compete with the more famous bitters. If you know how to drink this drink correctly, its use will bring only pleasure.
