To prepare colcannon you need cabbage and mashed potatoes (bacon or ham can be used as an addition). Because of such simple, accessible and inexpensive ingredients, this food can be enjoyed in Ireland at any time of the year, but better in the fall, during the fresh harvest, and, of course, on All Hallows' Eve.

Barmbrack

Barmbrack is another unique Irish national dish that has become an indispensable attribute of the Halloween table. It is prepared from yeast dough, always adding raisins or grapes. There are also variations of the traditional recipe, for example, using other savory ingredients.

In former times, rings, chips, coins, peas and other objects that personified the future were “hidden” in this food. Today, in memory of tradition, you can buy a barmbrack with symbolic rings inside.

Barmbrack is essentially Irish sweet bread. It is cut into slices and served with tea as a dessert. There are a lot of recipes for making barmbrack in Ireland and you can try it not only on holidays.

Irish stew

This traditional Irish dish is made from tender lamb with potatoes and onions. Local chefs do not like to change the traditional recipe much, adding only carrots, thyme or rosemary to the stew in order to achieve a more subtle and rich aroma and taste.

In Ireland, the love for this food has been rooted for centuries, and today Irish stew can be tasted everywhere. The stew is served hot, in deep plates along with broth. This is an excellent dish during the cold season - then its popularity increases sharply.

Irish Fish Chowder

Of course, the Irish love for potatoes is known throughout the world. But no less strong in the national cuisine is the passion for seafood, of which the country’s generous coastal waters provide many. An example of this is Irish fish chowder, for the preparation of which salmon, cod, halibut, mussels and shrimp are caught in Ireland.

The secret to the fantastic taste of the chowder lies in two key features: a light, delicate creamy broth and a mixture of fresh and smoked seafood and fish. It is curious that in the vast majority of cases the recipe also involves the use of bacon, fried until golden brown and crispy.

This unusual national food can be found on almost any menu. Here you will certainly be offered to try it with traditional soda bread and wash it down with a glass of “good old” Guinness, Kilkenny or Smithwick’s ale.

"Soda bread"

In every home in Ireland, in the kitchen, every housewife keeps her own recipe for the so-called “soda bread”, passed down from generation to generation. Some people prefer to bake it with honey and dried fruits, others with bran or oatmeal, but the main thing remains the same: the basis of the bread is soda, buttermilk and flour.

Another common ingredient added to this Irish dish is the famous Guinness beer. It gives the bread a unique, characteristic taste.

Irish traditions

They also greet each other in a special way: first, the index finger is raised up, then they nod their heads, and only then they shake hands. Smoking is not permitted in all entertainment and entertainment venues, such as bars, cinemas and restaurants, and this ban also applies to a number of hotels. By the way, drinks in bars are traditionally bought not only for one’s loved one - here it is customary to treat other visitors as well, this is considered a sign of good manners. But if you are the birthday boy, then you can relax; among the Irish, friends usually treat someone who has a birthday to alcohol, and not vice versa. Not a bad custom, don’t you think? Among other things, you should remember that the Irish value punctuality very much, so leave for all meetings in advance and try not to be late, this can be regarded as an insult and disrespectful attitude. By the way, the best topics for conversation with Politics, family, sports or hobbies will become natives. You should not start a conversation with the Irish about feminism or religion. And God forbid you mention the relationship between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in a conversation! By the way, the Irish believe that August is the first month of autumn, and not the last day of summer; we do not recommend that you argue with them on this topic.

It was in Ireland, or more precisely, at Shannon Airport, that the world's first Duty Free store appeared. The well-known word “boycott” has Irish roots: in 1880, Charles Boycott introduced a strict system of fines for his workers who went on strike against inflated rents. In response to this, society completely isolated Charles: his neighbors did not talk to him, he was not served in stores, and no one sat next to him in church. Since then, the word “boycott” as a form of expression of protest has taken root in many languages ​​of the world. Another distinctive feature of Ireland is its large red-haired population. So if you are a redhead, you are unlikely to be teased at school and sung after you with the song “redhead, redhead, freckled...”. But if you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, you can get beaten up at school for it, especially since it’s not prohibited. These are the rules. By the way, Ireland is the only European country in which there are more dogs than people.

Irish pub

Pubs are part of the national Irish culture. This is an establishment that has a license to sell alcoholic beverages, which are usually consumed without leaving the cash register. Since 1980, Irish pubs have spread throughout the world; now in almost every major city you can find a similar drinking establishment. The largest number of pubs are located in North America, which were founded there in the 1840s by Irish immigrants. The most traditional alcoholic drink served in such establishments is Irish beer. In addition, you can find ale or cider here. The most popular snacks are salted nuts and potato chips. In the evenings, Irish pubs play live music in the national style. Irish pubs date back to the beginning of the nineteenth century, at that time there was an anti-alcohol campaign in the country, and the owners of shops selling alcohol suffered losses due to a decrease in alcohol sales. Until the advent of supermarkets in 1960, Irish pubs were in most cases called “Spirit Grocer”, and the drinking establishment itself was located in the same premises either with a workshop, or a grocery store, or some other main business of the owner . It is noteworthy that pub owners were often gravediggers, and this tradition is still preserved. The interior of modern Irish pubs is designed in the spirit of the mid-nineteenth century: a bar counter with shelves behind it, occupying almost the entire room, and a small space intended to accommodate visitors.
As a rule, a pub is a family business that is passed down from generation to generation and almost always bears the name of its current owner or founder, although it happens that it can be named after a public figure or the name of the street on which it is located . The exterior decoration is made using national architectural features, such as small round turrets. The only “but”: in 1990, most Irish pubs were reconstructed in order to make these establishments convenient for tourists, so many well-known establishments lost their original appearance. The reorientation towards tourism introduced another feature atypical for pubs: in addition to the menu alcoholic drinks appeared food. Until this time, it was not customary for the Irish to eat out, and tourists mostly ate in hotels. But even now, some rural pubs adhere to the traditional menu, in which only light snacks are offered along with alcoholic drinks. For decades, the Irish pub has been the center of social life in every small town or village. It was not only a place where you could have a drink or two after a hard day at work, but also where you could spend your free time, meet and chat with your friends and find out the latest news. Pub patrons often know the owner very well, who either serves customers himself or with several assistants, so the atmosphere and style of communication here is mainly informal. And a note to tourists: in pubs it is not customary to leave tips for service.

Irish coffee

Irish coffee, although indirectly related to alcoholic beverages, certainly deserves close attention, especially given the fact that it has a very interesting history. This drink is indispensable for those who are cold. First, you are touched by a warm wave of cream, through which hot coffee penetrates, and at the finish - a slight intoxication and tingling of Irish whiskey. A sweet, bitter and slightly scalding drink. The origin of this invigorating drink is considered to be the coastal village of Foynes, located in County Limerick. Foynes is home to a large seaport, which in the mid-1930s served to receive seaplanes traveling between the United States and Europe. Often Foynes was only a transit point, and passengers were forced to transfer to a boat to get to shore. Accordingly, in bad weather they were very cold. It soon became clear that a restaurant that would offer visitors tasty and hot food was simply vital for passengers awaiting their flight. So, in 1942, an establishment was opened in Foynes, which was managed by chef Joe Sheridan.

“Once upon a time in the cold winter season”... In general, on one particularly chilly winter evening, a seaplane that had already taken off for Newfoundland was forced to return back. Everything would have been fine, but the passengers, who had just traveled by boat to the plane, had to again emerge from the warmth into the damp and cold air of the North Atlantic. The restaurant was in full combat readiness: passengers urgently needed to be warmed up and fed with delicious and hot food! That's when Joe Sheridan came up with the brilliant idea of ​​adding a couple of drops of whiskey to his coffee. One of the passengers, surprised by the aroma and original taste of the drink, asked: “Is this Brazilian coffee?” To which Joe proudly declared: “No, this is Irish coffee!” Since then, Irish coffee has become the official drink of Foyn Airport. The airport soon closed as the era of seaplanes ended and conventional aircraft became available. But soon a new airport was built near Foynes, which is now called Shannon International Airport. But the traditions have been preserved - everyone arriving in Ireland is greeted with Joe Sheridan’s famous drink. Irish coffee appeared in America thanks to friends Jack Coupler and Stanton Delaplane. To recreate the recipe for their favorite drink, which they had tried more than once at Shannon Airport, they had to fly “to bow” to Joe Sheridan himself. It seems like ordinary coffee, but to prepare it you need to know a couple of secrets. Coffee cream should be whipped only slightly, otherwise it will sink to the bottom of the glass. Well, the most important secret of Irish coffee is to pour the cream into the coffee using smooth movements, making sure to place the back of a spoon under the stream of cream. That is, you should pour the cream not into the coffee, but onto the back of the spoon. This is the only way you will get this famous Irish drink. By the way, Irish coffee is very common in the United States: the famous cafe on Hyde Beach prepares two thousand servings of this drink daily, and over fifty years of operation the number of cups has approached thirty-two million.

Brewing in Ireland

Ireland gave the world the famous Guinness stout, which now occupies about eighty-five percent of the country's beer market. As history tells, living in the first century BC, Conor Mac Nessa, under whose rule Ireland was, led a lifestyle that modern lazybones could only envy. He spent a third of the day watching sporting events, a third of the day playing board games, and the rest of the time he drank ale. During his lifetime, Saint Patrick was also considered an admirer of this intoxicating drink and even kept a personal brewer as a servant. A book describing the life of Saint Brigid , another patroness of Ireland, talks about the miracles she performed in brewing. For example, from just one bag of malt, Brigitte could brew Easter ale for seventeen churches at once, and of the highest quality.

Currently, the Irish brewing industry employs about one hundred thousand people, which is a lot for the not very densely populated Ireland. Excise taxes, together with income taxes, make a good contribution to the country's overall budget; for example, in 2003 this amount amounted to almost two million euros. Ireland is famous throughout the world for one type of beer - stout, or, as it is also called, porter. This drink first appeared in the 18th century in England, but after some time Ireland gained a leading position in its export to all countries of the world. Nowadays Dublin is sometimes called the capital of porter.

Guinness was the first to bottle beer using carbon dioxide and nitrogen pressure. This happened in the sixties of the twentieth century. This system is currently used throughout the world for serving ales and stouts. Before this method was invented, beer was served using two barrels: first the glass was filled two-thirds full with old, stale liquor from the bottom barrel, and then fresh sparkling stout was topped up from the barrel on top. Of course, the drink produced today is different its strength and density from what was customary to drink during the Second World War. As experts say, a modern stout is just a pale copy of what you could try in an Irish pub before. By the way, if you want to watch the wonders of physics, then pour a bottle of Guinness beer into a transparent glass: due to the use of nitrogen, the bubbles will go down the walls down instead of up. A fascinating spectacle!

Irish whiskey

Of course, this is the hallmark of Irish spirits. The very first patent for its production was issued back in 1608. In those days, the main condition for obtaining a patent was the so-called “kickback”, which looked like a share of the type of activity, or in other words royalty - “royal share”. A distinctive feature of this drink is the use of a mixture of barley and malt as a raw material. For example, in Scotland, barley and malt spirits are distilled separately and only then mixed; in Ireland, this process occurs at the production stage, which gives the drink a soft taste with a sweetish tint. In addition to single malt and grain whiskey, there is a local invention in Ireland - the so-called pure whiskey from a still or pure pot still. It is produced in copper stills using the batch distillation method. In local drinking establishments, it is customary to serve a glass of this famous alcoholic drink with a glass of cold water so that the client can independently dilute it to an acceptable concentration. It is not customary to serve ice with this alcoholic drink. And if you place an order, you should name the type of drink. And one more important addition: the Irish do not drink alcohol in one gulp and quickly. It is customary here to enjoy the taste of the drink in order to fully appreciate its quality.

Irish liqueurs

Uncover new facets of knowledge in the field of modern alcohol by systematically enjoying new alcohol from different parts of the planet.

This is a special type of alcohol, whose taste and aromatic ambitions captivate you already in the first moments of tasting. And this is not surprising, because this alcohol has practically no analogues on the market.

The potine drink is a prominent representative of the Irish alcoholic flavor. This country loves strong and charismatic assemblages, which is why the appearance of such an ambitious moonshine is a completely natural fact.

Moreover, a wide variety of raw materials can be used as the basis for creating this alcohol, from grain and sugar beets to potatoes and molasses.

Each manufacturer creates alcohol based on personal preferences, which in fact have virtually no restrictions.

Color

The visual execution of all representatives of the initiative involves several execution options. Alcohol can be either perfectly transparent or soft amber with golden reflections.

Aroma

The aromatic foundation is based on green apples, smoke, white pepper, wood and more.

Taste

The gastronomic balance is outlined by a slightly coarse masculine taste, in which fusel undertones predominate.

Production technology

The principle of preparing poitin is quite authentic. Initially, the raw materials are washed and fermented. Next, the resulting alcohol component is subjected to repeated distillation in small stills.

Previously, the cooking fire was kindled with peat, and to prevent the final product from acquiring a “smoked” flavor, the cooking procedure was carried out exclusively outside in windy or rainy weather.

Did you know? In 2008, the initiative received Geographical Indicative status. That is, today these products are protected by origin

How to buy an original product

If you want to protect yourself and enjoy exquisite strong alcohol this evening, we recommend that during the selection process you pay attention to:

• Place of purchase.

You should buy real Irish blends in specialized alcohol markets. Try to avoid dubious retail outlets. Trust stores that can provide you with quality certificates.

• Excise tax

During customs clearance, all foreign alcohol is marked with an excise stamp. This element of protection may only be absent if you purchase alcohol in a free trade zone or directly from the drink's home country.

• The structure of alcohol.

Pochin is an exceptionally transparent product without any impurities in its composition. Sediment, cloudiness and other new formations are unacceptable elements for alcohol that has undergone multiple distillations.

Also pay attention to the viscosity of the consistency. If you shake branded alcohol, you will see a small layer of oily liquid leaving the container walls for a long time.

• Decor.

Not a single manufacturer allows itself to be negligent in the visual design of its products. That is, on branded bottles you will never encounter glass chips, glue drips, asymmetrically placed labels and other signs of manufacturing defects. Just perfect appearance.

As for bottle shapes, each manufacturer produces poitin in its own authentic container. Therefore, before purchasing the assemblage you like, we recommend that you visit the manufacturer’s website and get acquainted with what a branded bottle should actually look like.

How to serve

Poitin is an extremely strong alcohol, the consumption of which requires special treatment on the part of the consumer. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to enjoy the tasting. Moreover, poitin is often used as a base for creating cocktails.

If you decide to enjoy it in its pure form, then prepare small glasses in advance. Vodka glasses are perfect. They will allow you to drink alcohol in one gulp in a limited dose. You won’t be able to savor the initiative because it’s too harsh.

Special attention should be paid to temperature standards. Like most representatives, the drink should be served chilled. Moreover, some representatives must be bottled directly from the freezer. It should be remembered that overheated alcohol has an overly pungent taste and a chaotic aroma.

What products does it combine with?

To fully reveal the gastronomic features of the initiative, try to serve the right dishes for its tasting.

Like the Irish drinks we are considering, they do not like overly sweet accompaniments. Desserts with this alcohol are contraindicated. It is better to limit yourself to hot dishes, fish, cold cuts and cheeses, and seafood.

Did you know? The name of the drink comes from the English word “pota”, which translates as “chan”.

Other uses

One of the brightest features of the initiative is its versatility in terms of creating non-trivial and tasty mixes. Like, the drink can contribute to almost any popular cocktail or. The product also looks great in combination with various juices and lemonades.

In each mix, Irish spirits reveal their genuine character and charm.

What types of this drink are there?

Nowadays, mass industrial production has been initiated by only a few companies, which is why you will not be able to surround yourself with a special variety of options in the selection process. At the same time, you are guaranteed to be able to pamper yourself with bright tastes and memorable aromas.

The most interesting representatives of poitin include:

• Potcheen Glendalough Premium. Transparent assemblage with attractive shades of ground pepper, dried apricots and vanilla on the palate. The aroma emerges with delicate tones of orange zest.
• Bunratty Winery Irish Potcheen. A perfectly clear 40% drink with hints of honey, raspberries and citrus in the aroma. The gastronomic foundation is expressed by balanced earth tons.
• Knockeen Hills Irish Poteen Farmer's Strength 50cl. Strong 50% alcohol with a pleasant milky taste. The aroma emerges with fragrant alcohol notes.

Historical reference

Pochin is an exclusively Irish drink with a strong charismatic nature, which is still homemade moonshine to this day. Almost every Irish family has its own original recipe for how to prepare this product.

There is no specific date for the creation of the recipe. It is known for certain that it has been prepared for several centuries.

Did you know? The strength of the original initiative varies from 40 to 90%.

Taste, aroma and aftertaste that you are guaranteed to remember

Pochin is a drink that reasonably stands out against the background of any other analogues of strong alcoholic assemblages.

Due to repeated distillation, it acquires unique taste characteristics that can become a worthy addition to any tasting evening, be it a meeting of old friends or celebrating an anniversary in a noisy company of relatives.

In addition, the drink is great for creating memorable cocktails. Based on it, you can create an impressive number of popular mixes and, accordingly, gain new experience from consuming long-familiar assemblages.

Visit your nearest liquor store today and purchase an original drink that will later become a worthy addition to your personal collection of alcoholic beverages.