Page 315 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

WHA T T O EA T AND DRINK 313

oldest brewery, A Le Coq in
Estonia and Ragutis – now
branded Volfas Engleman – in
Lithuania. Also in Lithuania,
Kalnapilis is owned by the
Danish Brewery Group. These
major brands predominate in
both bars and shops, although
some of the more popular
international beers are also
available in the three coun tries.
The two main categories are
light (helein in Estonian, gaišais
in Latvian and šviesus in
Lithuanian) and dark (tume in
Estonian, tumšais in Latvian and
tamsus in Lithuanian). However,
the major breweries have diver si- Saku Brewery, producer of some of the most popular beer in Estonia
fied their ranges and produce
everything from very light US- micro brewery on the premises mass-pro duced drink is usually
style ice beers to rich, dark por- of the huge LIDO Recreation made from malt extract and
ters. Lager drinkers will certainly Centre, just outside Rīga. In flavourings. Another common
find a light beer to suit their Lithuania, the Biržai region is lunchtime drink across the
palate, although visitors often known for its long standing region is kefir, a very mildly
find the dark beers appealing. brewing traditions and is home alcoholic fer mented milk, which
The arguably more interesting to several brew eries, including is one of the key ingredients of
products of small- and medium- the popular Rinkuškiai, which šaltibarščiai (see p311).
sized breweries do make it into has both light and dark beer.
some bars, particularly in the
area where they are produced
and in the capital cities, and Soft Drinks
larger super markets also often The most popular soft drink in
have a decent range. Estonia’s the Baltic States is a drink
islands produce stronger drinks traditionally made from
than most of the mainland fermented rye bread and
brew eries, and Saaremaa õlu is sometimes flavoured with fruit
particularly well received. or herbs, alternatively called
Interesting breweries in Latvia kali, kvass and gira. Strictly
include Užavas, which produces speaking, it is not a soft drink
unpasteurized beers that cannot and is beer-like, although it has
be stored for long and are not a very low alcohol content,
exported. Other brands worth usually about 1 per cent. It
looking out for are Valmiermuižas, vanished from the market at Kefir, fermented Kvass, malted
Tērvetes and Bauskas. The LIDO the time of the collapse of milk, Lithuania drink, Latvia
chain of restaurants brew their the Soviet Union because of
own brand of beer, with a concerns about the conditions A very popular soft drink in
of its produc tion and storage, Estonia is Tartu Limonaad, while
since it used to be Latvia has the very rustic bērzu
dis pensed from sula, made from birch sap. It is
large outdoor tanks. fermented in a barrel with
Once reintroduced, barley seeds sprinkled on top
it proved a threat and some times rye bread
to the market crusts are added. Traditional
dominance of flavourings for the juice include
Coca-Cola, which pepper mint and sprigs of black-
responded by currant, while more modern
buying the drink additions include lemon or
manufacturers in orange zest, raisins and
the three coun- cinnamon. Something else to
tries, who now look out for in Latvia is veselība,
produce Linnuse which is a soft drink sold in
Saku Aldaris Kalnapilis Švyturys Kali, Pilskalna vessels akin to beer bottles and
Originaal, Zelta, Grand, Gintarinis, Kvass and Bajorų advertised as being fortified
Estonia Latvia Lithuania Lithuania Gira. Today, this with an abun dance of vitamins.