Kvas (Kvass) - Russian Alternative to Coke

Ah, there is nothing better than a mug of cold kvas on a hot summer day. This refreshing and tasty drink is way healthier than coke and soda and it's not so difficult to prepare it at home. If you're asking yourself "What the heck is kvas", here are some interesting facts about it.



Kvass or kvas (in Russian: квас), sometimes translated into English as bread drink, is a fermented mildly alcoholic beverage made from black rye or rye bread (which attributes to its light or dark colour). It is popular in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland and other Eastern and Central European countries. Its origins go back 5,000 years to the beginnings of beer production.

The alcohol content is so low (0.05-1.44%) that it is considered acceptable for consumption by children. It is often flavoured with fruits or herbs such as strawberries or mint. Kvass is also used for preparing a summer cold soup, okroshka (which is yummy!)

Homemade Kvas Recipe

3 liters of water
1 kg rye crackers (rye bread cut into pieces dried in the oven until dark brown)
150-200 gr sugar
20 g yeast powder
60 g raisins

Pour boiling water into a saucepan with crackers, cool down. Mix in sugar. Add yeast powder, close with a piece of gauze and store in a warm place for 12 hours. Filter the mixture, pour into bottles, add raisins. Store in a cool place.