Traditional Czech beverages

What to drink in the Czech Republic?

Traditional Czech beverages

Beer
The most famous Czech drink is beer and it is also thought to be the world's best. Czech Republic is known as the country famous for its beer production and consumption.
Most popular Czech beers come in the 10° and 12° versions. Those numbers don’t refer to alcohol but to the brewery method and the hops share. Alcoholic content of Czech beers is mostly between 3.6 and 4 %.

Beer can be bought bottled, pasteurised or non-pasteurised (for example Bernard), in different types (lager, stout, light, dark) and in many places but the best way to taste the Czech beer is on draught.
A half-litre mug is cheaper than a glass of soda or cup of coffee. The best-known brands are Plzensky Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell) and Budejovicky Budvar (Budweiser), but just as good are Gambrinus, Krusovice, Radegast, Velkopopovicky kozel or Staropramen.
You may feel a strong sense of patriotism in Czech beer consumers – the Czechs drink mostly Czech beers. Many foreign breweries have tried to get Czechs drinking other than Czech beers after 1989, but they haven’t had much direct success in the Czech market.

Wines
Many regions of the Czech Republic have large wine producing areas. Production centres around local grape varieties, but there has been a recent increase in the production of established international strains such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Although Czech wines are not particularly well-known on the wider international market, they are popular domestically and in neighbouring countries.
Czech wine is produced mainly in Moravia, the South – Eastern Part of the Czech Republic. Although it might be not as famous as other South Eastern wines, the Czech wine is known through its representatives like: Frankovka and Modry Portugal from the red wines and Muller – Thurgau and Riesling from the white ones.
During the cold season Hot wine (Svarak) is popular in most wineries, bars and even on the street, at special events organised at Christmas markets. This is hot red wine mixed with a fragrant blend of spices (mainly cloves and cinnamon), and, if you like, sugar.


Becherovka
The favorite Czech aperitif is Becherovka

- a bitter-sweet herbal liqueur. It is made to a secret recipe in Karlovy Vary and it can be served as both, an aperitif or diluted with tonic water.
It can be great in different combinations and cocktails.
Becherovka is traditionally made out of several secret plants. It is said to be good for digestion and to have medicinal properties.


Fernet
is another herbal beverage, very appreciated by the Czech people (and not only by them). It comes in different variants, Stock (or bitter), Citrus (Lemon) and is best served cold or with ice.
The secret of Fernet Stock is hidden in its unique manufacturing process. The recipe is strictly guarded, but we can reveal that the Fernet Stock recipe is based on fourteen herbs imported from, among other places, the Pyrenees, the Atlas mountains, Cameroon, and Pakistan. The genuine Czech Fernet Stock also contains gentian root, quinine and orange peels, Roman chamomile and the haulm of blessed thistle.
However, the popularity of Fernet Stock is not based solely on its unique taste, but also on its beneficial health effects.

Slivovice
is an alcoholic baverage made from plums. The best one is home made, and it is popular especially in Moravia. Slivovice is pretty strong,different variants of this type of drink are made of other fruits and come in aromas like: pears (hruskovice), apricot (merunkovice), etc. It is stronger and clearer than herbal liqueurs and it’s very popular.

And don't forget the water, to stay hydrated.

If we speak of drinking water quality in the Czech Republic, we can without hesitation say that the water is not harmful to your health, i.e. you can drink it, and its quality conforms with European standards.
One of the biggest mineral water producers is Karlovarske mineralni vody, a.s., based in Karlovy Vary. In stores you can find a number of other natural and mineral waters such as Podebradka, Hanacka kyselka, Aquila, Dobra Voda, Toma Voda and Rajec, a new brand of spring water.
Carlsbad mineral water company is leader on the mineral water market in
Czech Republic. Carlsbad mineral water company produces high quality mineral
water Mattoni and Magnesia and spring water Aquila