An A to Z atlas of national drinks, from coffee, tea and vodka to beer and wine. But where do they enjoy laban and teh tarik?
- Every place has its favourite drink, alcoholic or not, and here is a list of countries from A to Z and their tipple of choice
- Some are to be expected, including French champagne, Czech beer and Russian vodka, but what is the national drink of Samoa?
From elaborate tea ceremonies to champagne toasts, the customs and rituals linked to drinking are as much a part of national identities as history, language, music and cuisine. Here’s an A to Z of countries and a drink associated with each.
From the German word for swallow, Austria’s national tipple is a distilled fruit brandy that packs a hefty punch. Schnapps is the go-to après-ski spirit, but is best avoided before hitting the slopes, for obvious reasons.
Brazil is the world’s biggest exporter of coffee but when the locals want to let their hair down – which is most days – a caipirinha is the way to go. Refreshing and easy to make, with Brazilian cane sugar spirit cachaca mixed with fresh lime juice and sugar, the cocktail was reportedly used as a cure for scurvy and cholera, and a remedy during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.
Beer is cheaper than bottled water in the Czech Republic so it’s no surprise the central European country consumes more than any other per head of population. Overall, however, China leads the way in both beer consumption and production.
Distilled from grain or potatoes and flavoured with herbs, akvavit (from the Latin aqua vitae, or “water of life”) is Denmark’s national firewater. And you were expecting it to be Carlsberg.
