Sbiten

A glass of sbiten
Sbiten Boyarsky, label

Sbiten or sbiten' (Russian: сбитень, збитень) is a hot winter Russian traditional drink. It has a dark purple appearance and, depending on the recipe, can be very spicy and/or very sweet.

History

First mentioned in Slavonic chronicles in 1128, it remained popular with all classes of East Slavic society until the 19th century when it was replaced by coffee and tea.[1] It is being revived in the 21st century as a mass-produced drink in Russia.

Preparation

Like mead and medovukha, sbiten' is based on honey mixed with water, spices, and jam. One recipe of sbiten' is described in the 16th-century Domostroy. Compared to kvass, sbiten' is very simple to prepare. In some recipes, honey and sbiten' flavor (spices, juices) are boiled down and then these two parts are combined and boiled again. In other recipes, all the ingredients are combined and boiled at once. The drink can also be made alcoholic by substituting red wine for the water. It can be garnished with mint leaves or cinnamon sticks.

It can also be served cold during the summer.

Sbitenshchik and Khodebshchik, a lubok print (19th century)

Sbitenshchik

Sbitenshchik (Russian: сбитенщик) was a sbiten vendor in Kievan Rus', Grand Duchy of Moscow and Russian Empire. The tradition began in the 12th century.

The comic opera The Sbiten Vendor (Сбитенщик – Sbitenshchik) by Yakov Knyazhnin with music by Czech composer Antoine Bullant, 1783, was very popular in 18–19th centuries in Russia.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sbiten' Honey-based concentrates". Retrieved 27 December 2014.
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