Local Drinks

1. Bosanska kahva

   Bosnian coffee

   Usage

   Finely ground coffee brewed in a copper džezva and poured into a small fildžan, served with sugar or rahat-lokum and drunk slowly

   Grammar Note

   kahva is the traditional form of kafa and names this particular coffee. Everyday orders use kafa

2. Boza

   Boza (fermented grain drink)

   Usage

   A thick, sweetish-sour drink fermented from fine grain, drunk cold

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun. "A glass of boza" is čašu boze

3. Salep

   Salep (warm sweet drink)

   Usage

   A thick warm drink cooked from milk and powder, sprinkled with cinnamon and drunk in winter

   Grammar Note

   A masculine noun. It is a winter drink, so some places only serve it in the cold season

4. Šljivovica

   Šljivovica (plum brandy)

   Usage

   A distilled spirit from plums and the best-known rakija. It is strong, drunk in small glasses; many people do not drink, so do not insist

   Grammar Note

   šljiva is plum; -ovica turns a fruit name into the name of a brandy

5. Rakija

   Rakija (fruit brandy)

   Usage

   The general word for fruit brandy; home-made bottles are sometimes offered to guests. It is strong, so sip small amounts. Many people do not drink

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun. "A small glass of rakija" is čašicu rakije

6. Žilavka

   Žilavka (Herzegovinian white wine)

   Usage

   A grape variety of Herzegovina and the white wine made from it, available at wineries around Mostar

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun. "A glass of žilavka" is čašu žilavke

7. Blatina

   Blatina (Herzegovinian red wine)

   Usage

   A red grape variety of Herzegovina and its wine, deep in colour; a local pair with žilavka

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun. "A glass of blatina" is čašu blatine

8. Sarajevsko pivo

   Sarajevsko beer

   Usage

   A local beer brewed in Sarajevo, available on tap or in bottles in cafés and restaurants

   Grammar Note

   sarajevsko is the neuter adjective, agreeing with the neuter noun pivo

9. Ajran

   Ajran (salted yogurt drink)

   Usage

   A cold drink of yogurt thinned with water and salted; it goes well with burek and meat dishes

   Grammar Note

   A masculine noun; it is a drink, not the plain jogurt

10. Šerbet

    Šerbet (sweet cold drink)

    Usage

    A sweet cold drink flavoured with fruit or rose, sometimes served at celebrations or when breaking a fast

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun; it should not be confused with sorbet as ice cream

11. Kiseljak

    Kiseljak (sparkling mineral water)

    Usage

    The name of a naturally sparkling mineral water, which is also a town name. For still water say bez gasa

    Grammar Note

    kiseo means sour; kiseljak is also an older word for sparkling water

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