These drinks take you from refreshing to ritualistic.
Jewish cuisine is as diverse as the Jewish people, and drinks are no exception. This list explores ten popular beverages enjoyed by Jewish communities around the world, from everyday favorites to those served on special occasions.
1. Limonana
This refreshing staple in Israel is a lemonade with a twist. Made with fresh lemons and mint, it's perfect on a hot day. For an extra kick, some enjoy it frozen or with arak, an anise-flavored liqueur.
2. Seltzer
More than just a drink, seltzer holds a unique place in Jewish culture. While its origins lie in Germany as a natural spring water, Eastern European Jews embraced it as a safer alternative to often-murky tap water. This bubbly beverage transcended its practical use. The lively fizz made it a festive favorite at Shabbat dinners and celebrations, earning it the nickname 'Jewish champagne.' Some even believed the carbonation aided digestion after hearty meals.
3. Egg Cream
A New York classic with a surprising lack of eggs! This sweet treat combines chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer for a frothy, delicious drink with roots in Jewish immigrant communities.
4. Sachlav
Sachlav means orchid in Hebrew. This warm, winter drink in Israel is traditionally made with the root of an orchid with floral flavors, but due to endangered orchid tubers, cornstarch and rosewater is often used today. Enjoy it topped with cinnamon, coconut shavings, and nuts. I love it served with a whole cinnamon stick too.
5. Manischewitz Concord Grape Wine
This sweet kosher wine is practically synonymous with kiddush, the blessing over wine recited on Shabbat and holidays. While its intense sweetness might not be for everyone, Manischewitz holds a nostalgic place in many Jewish households. You can find a bottle in almost any supermarket around the U.S and you can even find cool new recipes to use it like our Manischewitz Jello Mold.
6. Bartenura Moscato
A sweeter and bubblier alternative to Manischewitz, Bartenura Moscato has become a popular modern choice for kiddush in recent years. Its low alcohol content and fruity flavors make it a crowd-pleaser. The blue bottle and great marketing pushed this kiddush wine beyond Jewish tables and has achieved unparalleled recognition and success.
This list just scratches the surface of the vast world of Jewish drinks. From everyday refreshments to symbolic beverages, these drinks tell stories of tradition, innovation, and adaptation for the Jewish people.
I am Jewish and resent that shales or salepi is represented as Jewish. I do not know its origins but I was introduced to it in ioannina, Greece a former ottoman city. I love getting it from a vendor by the Jaffa gate in Jerusalem. I also enjoy salepi in Istanbul.
Lots of foods originated in Jewish kitchens. Others reflect our shared cultures thank you