What is Boza?
Boza is a strong, fermented drink that is popular in many Eastern European and Eurasian countries. It can be made of barley, wheat or millet, among other grains and can taste acidic or sweet and slightly acidic. Boza usually contains up to 4 percent alcohol and can be easily cooked at home. Bulgarian, Albanian and Turkish types are most available. The drink was an important export under the Otomans and was widely consumed until the end of the 16th century. Sultan Selim II banned Bozu because of the fears that he was attached to the opium.
Later, the sultans maintained this ban because the drink was alcoholic. It seems that promotion was at best minimal with regard to many reports on the shops of Boza throughout the empire. Since the alcohol content is low, it was permissible to drink it in a small quantity. Drunk drinking was not allowed.
In the 19th century there was a renaissance. The Albanian type of drink has become a popular choice at the Ottoman Palace, because it was not too alcoholic, but tasted sweet. Two brothers haciThey founded a shop in the center of Istanbul in 1876, which produced a version of a drink with a taste of a cake that has become widely known and is still popular today.
The Turkish version is made of hull cooked in the water and then poured into shallow pans. When the mixture is cold, water and sugar are added. This type is known as Vefa Boza and is usually consumed during winter with cinnamon and roast chickpeas.
In Albania, the drink is made of corn and wheat flour with sugar and water. The taste can be sweet or acidic depending on how much sugar is added. Unlike the Turkish type, this version is lighter and is considered to be Beverage. As a result, it is often sold in sweets and ice cream stores.
Bulharan Boza is harder and most people cannot drink large quantities at a time. It is made of roasted flour millet, water and sugar. In Bulgaria, the drink is usually consumed with Banitsa at breakfast. Banitsa JE bread made of eggs and filo. All types of beverage will spoil if they are not kept cool.
Scientific studies of the drink threw light on its nutritional content. One liter or 33 ounces generally contain vitamins E, B A and and approximately a thousand calories. It is assumed that the drink can stimulate lactation and is recommended for women who have recently gave birth.
This malt drink is common in Poland and Lithuania, as in Turkey, Albania and Bulgaria. Boza is also consumed in Romania, Ukraine and Serbia. In addition, it is typical in Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Chicago region in the United States.