Initially, balms were created as a natural remedy for many ailments. After some time, they ceased to be just a medicine and turned into a separate group of alcoholic beverages served at the table. I will tell you how to drink balms correctly in order to get the maximum pleasure and benefit from them. We'll look at different options.
Balm Is an alcoholic drink with a strength of 40-45%, made by tinting herbs with alcohol with the addition of other ingredients provided for by the recipe (essential oils, roots, stems, leaves, sugar, honey, fruits, etc.). Usually the balms are dark brown in color and have a characteristic bitter taste.
In Europe and the USA, balms are also called bitters (from the English "bitter" - bitter). In addition to tinctures, this group includes some strong vermouths and liqueurs. For example, among the assortment of martinis there is a drink called "Bitter", which belongs to balsams. It is made on the basis of alcohol, not wine like other vermouths.
The most popular balms in the world:
- Bittner (Austria);
- Maurera (Sweden);
- Swedish bitterness;
- Jägermeister (Germany);
- Campari (Italy);
- Unicum (Hungary);
- Riga (Latvia);
- Abbots (USA);
- Karelian (Russia);
- Buryatia (Russia)
- Parne (Russia).
The most popular balm Doctors advise drinking no more than 150 ml of balms per day. Exceeding this dose leads not only to severe intoxication, but also to intestinal problems (the effect of herbs in the composition affects).
Methods to drink balm
1. In pure form. Balms can be aperitifs or digestives: served before or after meals. In their pure form, it is customary to drink them from liqueur glasses in small sips. A good cigar will be an excellent addition to the balm. An appetizer is not needed, since any dishes interrupt the pleasant aftertaste of herbs.
2. With tea and coffee. Just 1-2 teaspoons of the balm will make the taste of ordinary tea or coffee unique. One cup of this drink raises your tone, improving your mood. At the same time, the person does not get drunk. The positive tonic effect is even more noticeable than in the classic combination of coffee and cognac, which everyone knows about.
3. As part of cocktails. It is customary to add balm to some alcoholic cocktails. One of the simplest recipes is the Black Night Dancer cocktail, which is prepared in the following proportions:
- riga black balsam (1 part);
- black currant syrup (1/2 part);
- fresh lemon juice (1/4 part);
- cola (2 parts).
Preparation: Mix all the ingredients in a shaker and pour into a martini glass. Top the cocktail with a slice of lemon or a cherry.
Cocktail "Black Night Dancer" 4. With other alcoholic beverages. This method is very popular in the West, but little is known about it here. For even ordinary vodka to radically change the taste, it is enough to pour 3-4 drops of balm into it. The same trick can be done with cognac, gin, whiskey and wine. When mixed, very original combinations are obtained.
5. As a medicine. Balms can be used to treat colds, runny nose, indigestion, boost immunity and tone the body. But in the case of chronic diseases, it is better to consult a doctor before use. He must prescribe the correct dosages.
Composition of Riga Black Balsam
This legendary balm from Latvia is very popular in Russia. It was invented by the pharmacist Abraham Kunze, and since 1752 the drink has been supplied to Europe and the USA. In 1789, the Riga balsam was presented to Empress Catherine II as the best remedy for colic. Seeing the positive effect, she presented Kunze with the right to produce the drink in the Russian Empire.
In 1939, the recipe for the balm was lost, it was only possible to restore it in 1954, at the same time the mass production of the drink was launched at the Riga distillery factory (now the company is called Latvijas Balzams).
Black Riga Balsam During the Soviet era, Soviet citizens actually had no alternative to Riga Balsam, so it was not easy to get it, and to put it on the table in front of guests was very prestigious. But even now, when the range of balms is huge, it does not lose its popularity due to its high quality.
Riga Balsam is produced in a special ceramic bottle that protects the contents from the negative effects of sunlight. It contains 24 ingredients, the main ones are:
- prepared water;
- grain ethyl alcohol of the highest purity;
- balsamic oil;
- cognac;
- raspberry;
- ginger;
- blueberries;
- lingonberry;
- sugar;
- honey flavor;
- plant extracts.
The exact recipe and composition is kept secret by the manufacturer, we can only enjoy the taste of Riga Balsam, not fully understanding what is in its composition.
Rare tourists come from Latvia without bringing with them Riga black balm or some other type of drink that has become one of the symbols of the country and the city. Even today, its recipe is kept secret, although technologists have managed to identify several components. Feedback from product lovers and research conducted allowed us to get an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat the benefits and harms of a unique product are. Today, like decades ago, many people actively use it for medicinal purposes.
Types of Riga balsam and their composition
The basic version of the Riga balsam was invented in the XIIX century and was used exclusively for medicinal purposes. Gradually, new ingredients were introduced into the composition, which changed the properties and taste characteristics of the product. Today, beverage producers claim that Riga Balsam consists of 24 components. Most of them have a pronounced tonic effect, which determines the properties of the liquid.
It is important to understand that the traditional composition has several varieties and none of them is a fake:
- Classical. This is a brown bottle with the company logo. This is a pure product that is as close as possible in composition and properties to a drug. Usually it is used for medicinal purposes.
- The black. The liquid, which is bottled in black bottles with the company logo, has a more complex composition and a rich balsamic taste. The aroma is clearly visible, which allows the product to be used for culinary purposes. It is usually added to other drinks to enhance their taste.
Tip: Riga balsam often acts as a culinary ingredient. It can be added to low alcohol drinks and cocktails, toppings and cake creams,. It is sometimes mixed with other ingredients and used as a salad dressing.
- Creamy black. The last version of Riga balsam, which is considered cocktail. It is characterized by a rich creamy taste that enriches beverages and confectionery. This product is also credited with a pronounced anti-cold effect, which is often used by supporters of traditional medicine.
In addition, there are several more brands of Riga balsam, which are produced in limited quantities and are not so popular. But, according to connoisseurs, their tastes differ only in nuances, which are even invisible to some people.
The benefits and healing properties of Riga balsam
Initially, Riga balsam was used only for one purpose - to increase the tone of the body. Today, the liquid, which contains many medicinal herbs and other equally useful ingredients, promises the following results:
- Fighting the manifestations of the common cold. It is best to take some balm at the first symptoms of ailment. It is enough to add a tablespoon of the composition to tea, coffee or a drink brewed from black currant leaves and berries.
- Improving overall tone. The use of Riga balsam before meals in the amount of 1 tablespoon invigorates well and promotes the absorption of food. This approach is especially useful for people with anemia, lowered immunity, and other conditions that can cause fatigue. True, you need to remember that Riga balsam contains alcohol, so you should not drink it before work, study, if necessary, get behind the wheel.
- Fight the signs of a hangover. To get rid of unpleasant symptoms the day after the holiday, you can simply drink a tablespoon of the composition. But the approach will be much more effective if the liquid is mixed with cranberry juice.
- Elimination of symptoms of depression. A healing drink relieves fatigue, fights apathy and bad mood, helps to overcome irritation. But in this case, you need to proceed with caution! The combination of Riga balsam with antidepressants or psychotropic drugs can lead to the development of negative consequences.
- Improving appetite, stimulating bowel function. Initially, Riga balsam was used precisely to normalize intestinal motility and eliminate atony. Today this property of the product has not gone anywhere, so it can be safely used as an aperitif before meals. In some cases, the composition should be taken on an empty stomach, so it is better to first consult with your doctor.
- Sleep normalization, fight against insomnia. If you drink 20-30 ml of the product before bedtime, you can speed up the process of falling asleep. The main thing is not to exceed dosages, otherwise the effect will be the opposite.
In some cases, the external use of Riga balsam is also allowed. If you use it as a basis for compresses or lotions, you can achieve disinfection of wounds, their faster healing.
Potential harm
Manufacturers and doctors recommend using Riga balsam no more than 30-50 ml per day. Moreover, it is recommended to do this not systematically, but from time to time. We must not forget that, first of all, this is an alcoholic drink and its daily use in large and not very large volumes can cause the development of alcoholism. Here are a few more things to consider when introducing a composition into your regimen:
- If you have a history of cardiac or vascular pathologies, it is better to refuse the remedy. The same must be done in case of a heart attack or stroke.
- A severe allergy to honey, berries, herbs and other natural products can provoke a violent reaction of the body to the drink.
- The use of the composition is prohibited in the recovery period after a traumatic brain injury, with alcohol dependence and alcohol intolerance.
- Riga balsam should be discarded during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
For a long time, there was an opinion that the use of alcoholic beverages such as Riga balsam in minimal volumes has a positive effect on people's health. Today, an increasing number of doctors and scientists reject this theory and advise to completely stop drinking alcohol.
Features to keep in mind
If, nevertheless, it was decided to purchase a bottle of Riga balsam, you need to consider the following points:
- The mass deteriorates very quickly, and in a substandard state, it can provoke poisoning. So you do not need to take a large volume without taking into account the dosage.
- In order not to buy a fake, the balm should be bought in Riga. The product is sold in a characteristic ceramic container, always with an oak cork.
- The color of the original product is brown, the smell is pronounced and specific.
- The taste of this drink is bittersweet, neither tart nor unpleasant.
Today on the Internet you can find recipes for making Riga balsam. Of course, you can try, but you can't get real products in this way. The balsam preparation technology is very complex and consists of many stages. The slightest violation on one of them leads to damage to the workpiece.
Riga Black Balsam is one of the main sights of Latvia.
For several centuries, a strong drink was made only on the basis of natural extracts of berries, leaves and herbs that have a beneficial effect on the functions of the human body.
A pleasant, rich, bittersweet taste reminds of a medicinal mixture.
An alcoholic drink with an original taste has received worldwide recognition and various international prizes.
An effective remedy belongs to the list of official Latvian medicines.
Produced in a special ceramic or clay container, protecting the healing elixir from light rays and temperature extremes.
History of appearance
After the Second World War, the recipe for a healing drink disappeared, and to recreate the formula, experts conducted a lot of tests and tests. Today, the traditional recipe for this remedy has been supplemented with fresh ingredients.
The leading producer Latvijas balzams produces four types of bitters:
Cost and where to buy
There are 44 Riga Black Balsam brand stores in Latvia. It is sold in specialized stores "Latvijas balzams", as well as in large supermarkets in the alcoholic drinks department.
The cost of a bottle of a drink depends on the volume and packaging, varies between 2-100 €. If the purchase amount is more than 100 €, then the stores offer a 10% discount.
If you have never tried a drink, you can purchase a 0.2 liter container that costs 450-550 rubles.
Balsam connoisseurs prefer to take a bottle of 0.7 liters at once at a price of 1200-1300 rubles.
How not to fall for a fake
Riga Black Balsam is easily recognizable by the yellow background on which the name of the brown company is placed.
It is produced in a characteristic ceramic container, where the cork should only be made of oak.
The color of the original bitter is brown, thanks to the combination of beneficial herbs, fruits and roots.
Due to aging in barrels, the taste of the drink is bittersweet.
Chemical composition
The famous product contains 24 high quality ingredients, including:
- specially prepared water,
- sugar,
- natural honey flavor.
- linden blossom;
- valerian;
- mint;
- nutmeg;
- ginger;
- raspberry;
- st. John's wort;
- lingonberry;
- blueberries;
- berry fruit drinks.
On the page: How to make a cucumber face mask.
The balm also contains wormwood (read about its magical properties), St. John's wort, yarrow (), bird cherry (), anise and dill seeds and many other useful herbs. Numerous components do not interrupt the scent, but only accentuate each other.
The drink contains a number of minerals:
- calcium,
- potassium,
- magnesium,
- iron,
- organic acids,
- tannins,
- proteins,
- carbohydrates,
- fats.
Although the ingredients of the national drink are known, the recipe is still kept in strict confidence and is known only to the master and his two assistants.
Strict adherence to the recipe and the use of quality ingredients maintains the taste of Riga Black Balsam at a decent level.
Medicinal properties and benefits
The medicinal elixir of the pharmacist Abraham Kunze was proposed as a miracle cure for many diseases.
The healing properties of the drink have been repeatedly confirmed over several centuries.
Judging by the positive reviews, he really helped a huge number of people who noted pronounced healing properties in various diseases:
- helps with colds, depression and loss of strength;
- used for rheumatism;
- has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system;
- herbs in the balm treat gastrointestinal diseases and dissolve gallstones;
- heals wounds and burns;
- strengthens the immune system (read how to take echinacea tincture), fights against colds;
- relieves headaches and migraines.
For prevention, bitter is used for gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Thanks to its astringent and antiseptic substances, gastrointestinal diseases and indigestion are treated.
To prevent colds, it is recommended to add 1-2 tsp. means in tea with lemon or coffee (about the benefits and harm to the heart is written on the page), which will increase the expectoration of phlegm and increase sweating.
Dissolving the balm in warm water, you can gargle with sore throat.
With physical and mental stress, the drink is used as a tonic and immunomodulatory medicine, taking 30 g after a meal.
Compresses and rubbing help relieve pain and tension in joints and muscles.
Contraindications for use
In addition to useful properties, it also has contraindications. Due to the high alcohol content, the drink should not be consumed by pregnant women and children.
Regular consumption of Riga Black Balsam can lead to alcoholism. The famous balm for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes is consumed at 30 ml per day.
In case of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidney failure, it is better to consult your doctor.
How to do it yourself
The initial stage of preparation of the balm is to infuse it in special oak barrels for a month.
The output is a bitter essence that is mixed with alcohol, brandy and juices. The characteristic shade of the drink is given by honey and burnt sugar.
The finished liquid is poured into clay bottles and aged for another 6 months. This container protects the balm from sunlight and temperature changes.
A complex production technology consists of several long stages:
Balsam bar Riga Black Magic
The bar "Riga Black Magic" is located not far from the Town Hall building. Previously, there was a pharmacy of Abraham Kunce - the author of the Riga bitter, therefore the drink is also called Kunce Balsam.
Initially, the famous drink was used as a healing agent, and now its tonic properties are appreciated all over the world.
The bar is a landmark of Riga and is popular with visitors, but the cost of a drink is slightly higher there than in other points.
In a stylish establishment that mimics an 18th-century pharmacy, guests are served by waiters in costumes from that century.
The staff will tell you an interesting story about the emergence of bitters and suggest you try different types of this health elixir, which is added to cocktails, coffee or baked goods, desserts and ice cream.
How to use
The famous bitter goes well with other alcoholic beverages, it is added to: 
- coca cola,
- beer,
- champagne,
- brandy,
- cognac,
- fortified sweet wines.
It is usually served in small liqueur glasses along with hot green tea or coffee.
Delicious cocktails are made on the basis of the balm, for example:
- Signature cocktail.
60 ml of Balsam is mixed with 30 ml of blackcurrant juice and drunk warm. - Sugar Black.
60 ml of bitter add 60 ml of cream and 30 ml of coffee liqueur. - Black honey money.
In 30 ml of balsam add 4 tbsp. l. apple juice, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 1 tbsp. l. honey. - Black hot mint.
Mix 30 ml of Riga remedy with 4 tbsp. l. mango juice, 4 tbsp. l. apple juice and add 3 g of mint leaves. - Black mojito.
Mix 30 ml Riga Balsam with half a lime, add fruit syrup, half a glass of Sprite and ice.
Thanks to the extraordinary taste and useful qualities of the "elixir of youth", the Latvian balm will be popular among the inhabitants of the Baltic states and tourists from different countries for a long time to come.
Watch a good video review on the history of the appearance and the healing properties of Riga balsam.
Latvia. This is a truly elite drink that has won more than 30 national and international awards in its 250-year history. A real miracle of pharmaceuticals and winemaking, designed for those who know how to choose, appreciate and savor drinks.
Riga Balsam is a strong, rich drink of dark color. Its country of origin is Latvia. The balm is infused in oak barrels, due to which it acquires a unique bitter taste, noble and aristocratic.
It was the favorite drink of Alexei Kosygin and Charles de Gaulle, and today it is in a special favor with the English. It is especially appreciated in Russia, the USA, Denmark and Israel.
Today in Latvian cafes and bars, balsam is perhaps the most popular component of almost all types of dishes: desserts, salads, sauces, hot, cocktails, etc. It is ideal as a digestif. found application in cooking and pharmaceuticals.
A bit of history
In the middle of the 18th century, the Riga pharmacist Abraham Kunze made this drink and in 1789 offered it to Catherine II as a cure for colic, which the Russian empress suffered from when she was visiting Latvia at that time. Catherine II appreciated the healing effect of the balm.
In 1845, the industrialist Albert Volshmidt became the founder of a leavening and alcoholic balsam factory in Riga. The main craftsmen at the factory were the Schrader brothers, who owned the secret of making the balm. They didn't even sell the original recipe to the factory owner. With their departure to Germany, the recipe for the "miracle drink" was lost.
For almost two centuries, the method of making the balm was kept secret. In the USSR, after the Second World War, they began to collect old recipes bit by bit, and in 1954 the production of balsam was launched.
Riga balsam: composition
The drink contains 24 components, among which the main ones are specially prepared water, purified ethyl alcohol, plant extracts, balsamic Peruvian oil, raspberries, cognac, ginger, natural flavors and sugar. In addition, the drink includes mint, gentian, lemon balm, linden blossom, valerian, irga and hyssop.
An extract from 16 herbs, which is a biologically active component of the balm, makes up only about 4% of the drink. To give the drink the desired shade, it is diluted with a special color - caramel syrup, raspberry or blueberry juice and exclusively Armenian or French cognac.
"The subtleties of drinking"
The balsam has a bittersweet original taste, its strength is 45 degrees. The drink is often served as a dessert for coffee. There are no exact instructions on how to drink Riga Balsam.
Traditionally, it is consumed in small glasses either neat or in combination with tea (coffee). If you prefer tea, then 1-2 tablespoons of balm are enough for a cup. The subtlety of brewing the most delicious tea lies in the fact that the balm needs to be added after it brightens a little from the lemon (it is advisable to remove the slice from the cup before adding the balm there).
The most popular type of this drink is Riga Balsam. It is drunk hot in winter and cold in summer.
Storage features
The balm is produced in original ceramic bottles made of a special type of clay, which is capable of excellently protecting the contents from temperature extremes and sunlight. Clay was not chosen for the manufacture of containers by chance, because even Hippocrates established that only in earthenware are medicines able to preserve their qualities in the best possible way. In addition, it is believed that only after standing in these bottles for at least two weeks, the balm acquires exactly such an inimitable taste, for which it is appreciated. The drink is not sold in bottling and is not produced in any other container.
If you are in Latvia, the first thing that you will be advised to buy as a souvenir is Riga Balsam. This is a great gift even for non-drinking people, because it can be used for medicinal purposes.
I am a big fan of this drink, so in my review I will tell you everything I know about it, and its story is very interesting!
But first things first, and let's start with technical information))
Packaging.
There are different containers, from 0.04 liters (although this is rare on sale) to 3 liters, for every taste, as they say.
The bottle is heavy, thick-walled, which, of course, is beautiful and solid, but it's very difficult to really estimate the volume (of what was drunk). The traffic jam is visible in the photo
Composition and preparation.
The composition on the bottle is about nothing)) Beautiful and mysterious.
The balm has a large percentage of alcohol - 45% (balms with additives less - 30%),
the rest of the ingredients (and there are 24 of them, and, of course, the full composition is kept secret) are quite useful:
Birch buds,
Blueberry,
Linden inflorescences,
Black pepper,
Arelsin peel
and other natural ingredients.
The balsam is prepared in oak barrels (the components are soaked in alcohol for a month), and only three people know the exact technology and composition.
Made, of course, in Latvia.
The history of the balm
Initially, alcoholic herbal tinctures were used as a medicine against various ailments, fever, headaches, insect and snake bites. The first use of the balm as a drink dates back to 1752,
this date is taken as the official date for the creation of the balm. Initially, the composition of the balm was somewhat different, and the percentage of alcohol was only 16%, but over time the recipe was changed. After the First World War, the recipe was lost, and only in 1950. it was restored.
The balm has received a large number of awards, in my opinion, very deservedly, the drink is truly unique.
Taste
classic black balm - bittersweet.
The balm with additives has a taste corresponding to the name (cherry Riga Black Balsam Cherry and black currant - Riga Black Balsam Currant ), these balms, unlike the classic ones, are very sweet! In practice, these are already liqueurs, which is also not bad at all.
There is also a balm Rīgas Melnais balzams element, which is the closest in composition to the original (meaning the original recipe).
There is also a creamy option Riga Black Balsam Cream, for lovers of drinks like Baileys.
Application.
In its pure form, black balm is not very tasty, therefore, it is most often used with coffee, with ice cream and in cocktails, as well as for medicinal purposes (for colds, headaches, general ill health, although, as for me, there is more placebo effect here, but the mood improves, yes).
Recipes with Riga balsam:
1. Ice cream with balsam
- 1/2 cup black / berry balm
- 1/2 cup max fat milk
- 1 tbsp ice cream
Ice cream is placed in a bowl and poured over with milk. Next, carefully add the balm, so that nothing is mixed. Ideally, heat the balm before this, then the taste of the cocktail will be much more interesting.
- 50ml balm (black)
- 200ml cola
- 25ml lemon juice
- lemon
Everything is poured into a glass, ice and a slice of lemon are added.
3. Hot drink with Riga Balsam
- 2l milk
- 150g honey
- 200ml balm (black)
- 200g raspberry tea
We brew tea. Heat milk (do not boil), add tea and other ingredients. Stir and serve warm.
I hope the review was useful and interesting (you can put a plus sign, thanks!)
