When I first moved to Tirana, I remember being perplexed as to why people were drinking shot glasses filled with water with their morning coffee. It was after a few weeks that I realise that this innocuous transparent liquid, was not water, and in fact it was raki- the blood that pumps through the veins of Albania.
For those that don’t know, raki is a sort of fruit brandy typically made from grapes, but also made from plums, mulberry, or even walnuts, depending on the region. It can be distilled normally or left to age in oak barrels, and its strength varies from 30% to will-blow-your-socks-off-and-strip-the-wallpaper-at-the-same-time %.
Raki can also be mixed with other ingredients such as herbs, honey, fruit, and even chilli after it has been distilled, and since raki has become ‘cool’ again, all sorts of flavours are available.
Most homes have a bottle of raki stashed away and many people brew their own. It is available in almost every bar, coffee shop, store, and restaurant in the country and it is drunk for every occasion and a whole range of ailments.
Sure enough, after being here for a year, I have been told many times to “have a raki” to alleviate the issue- be it stage fright, period pain, influenza, or just because- it seems that it is always raki o’clock in Albania. But what are the most common uses for this magical spirit? I asked The Balkanista community to find out more!
Romina “Raki cures the heart!”
Ina ‘To seperate the strong from the weak.”
Ashman “When you have bad flu with temperature. You are to rub it on the back to lower the temperature and cure the flu. My parents used this method on me growing up. Always worked. While in Albania I learned you are to drink a shot upon waking to help trim your waistline. Like a fat burner.”
Besmir “Some people use it (male mostly) as an aftershave!”
Arber “Raki is love, love cures all!”
Rezart “Heat up a cup of rakija, dissolve well 1 aspirin in it, and rub the back of the ill while the rakija is still hot, cover quickly and don’t let the steam escape. Good for bronchitis and other cold/flue conditions affecting the respiratory tract!”
Loer “Raki is an aphrodisiac.”
Siobhan “Everything!”
Ann “Sunburn- it stings like hell at first but after about 30 seconds it stops hurting completely. People say raki helps with pain but that’s only because you can’t feel your limbs after a few”
Sevim “You can use raki to improve the Albanian language. After a glass of raki, you can speak well with our language. After the second glass of raki, you can dance …”
Elona “It cures isolation, timidity, introversion, shyness, bad humour, monotony, seriousness, mistaken. Take it 3 times/day before meals and after.”
Boris “Rub on aching muscles to relieve muscle pain.”
Amantia “Use to cure a toothache.” “Full your mouth with it to numb the nerve to get you through the night until you get to see your dentist.”
Ira “When you have a cold and your stomach hurts, drink just a little bit.”
Jasmina “I had severe pneumonia for 3 weeks and no medicine helped. So they told me to mix 1 spoon of honey, 1 spoon of olive oil, juice from 1/2 lemon and 2 spoons of RAKI. Pneumonia disappeared. I use it as prevention each winter.”
Lola “It has been used as an antiseptic as well in the absence of other lotions. You can use it to sanitize mosquito bites and even gunshot wounds, before trying to scoop the bullet out.”
Erjan “It helps regularise the heartbeat.”
Silda “There is a very special raki made of oregano that is used to cure respiratory issues. It is made in Permet.”
Justin “I have used it to clean permanent marker off a whiteboard and to clean a rifle.”
Ani “I have used it as a glass cleaner, the house smells divine afterwards!”
Kastriot “One cup of raki boiled with sugar is a great cure for a cold.
Windi “Raki is used to create memories.”
Bledar “To forget all your troubles! I mean one’s troubles, not particularly yours.”
Franc “Just drink one shot in the morning with a Turkish coffee and you won’t need a doctor. My grandmother does it every day and she is 91- in good shape.”
Besmir “To connect with people!”
Plarent “To “ef” up someone else’s wedding, to put babies to sleep when they don’t let you sleep, to pay for medical care, to help to pass the exam without studying, and tons of other applications. It’s truly magic how it works in any situation”
I better get me another bottle!
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