A glass of boza.

Boza is a popular fermented beverage in Albania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. It is made from fermented wheat in Turkey and wheat or millet in Bulgaria and Romania. It has a thick consistency and a low alcohol content (usually around 1%), and has a slightly acidic sweet flavor. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 350 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1200 × 2056 pixel, file size: 428 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boza Metadata This... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 350 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1200 × 2056 pixel, file size: 428 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boza Metadata This... Bottles of cachaça, a Brazilian alcoholic beverage. ... Anthem: (Macedonian for Today over Macedonia) Capital (and largest city) Skopje Macedonian, Albanian1 Government Parliamentary republic  - President Branko Crvenkovski  - Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski Independence from Yugoslavia   - Declared September 8, 1991  Area  - Total 25,333 km² (148th) 9,779 sq mi   - Water (%) 1. ... Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, Bright Dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Demonym Montenegrin Government Republic  -  President Filip Vujanović  -  Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro   -  Declared June 3, 2006... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 812   -  Kingdom established 1217   -  Empire established 1346   -  Independence lost to... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. compactum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum T. timopheevii References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 For the indie rock group see: Wheat (band). ... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. compactum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum T. timopheevii References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 For the indie rock group see: Wheat (band). ... Pearl millet in the field The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. ...

In the Republic of Macedonia boza is much thinner and lighter, and tastes sweeter. For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ...

In Turkey it is served with cinnamon and roasted chickpeas, and is consumed mainly in the winter months. The Ottoman Empire was known to feed its army with boza as it is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins. Binomial name J.Presl Cassia (Chinese cinnamon) is also commonly called (and sometimes sold as) cinnamon. ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29...

In Bulgaria it is part of the traditional "Banitsa with Boza" breakfast. Banitsa Banitsa (Bulgarian: , also transliterated as banica and banitza) is a traditional Bulgarian pastry prepared by layering a mixture of whisked eggs and pieces of sirene (white cheese) between filo pastry and then baking it in an oven. ...

In Albania it is mostly produced and sold in the northern part of Albania; you can easily find it in the candy and ice-creams stores of the capital, Tirana. Nickname: Coordinates: , Country Albania Founded 1614 Elevation 295 ft (90 m) Population (2005 est)[1]  - City 585,756  - Metro 700,000 Tirana (Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Albania. ...

In southern Serbia, boza is produced and sold in the whole country. Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 812   -  Kingdom established 1217   -  Empire established 1346   -  Independence lost to...

The variant found in Romania is called bragă, and it is sweeter than in Turkey and Bulgaria, but thicker and darker than in Republic of Macedonia.

History

Turkish bragă seller in Bucharest, 1880

Its origin dates back from the ancient populations that lived in Anatolia and Mesopotamia ^{[citation needed]}. The formula was taken by the Ottomans and spread over the countries they conquered ^{[citation needed]}. The Greek historian Xenophon records that boza was made in eastern Anatolia in 401 BC, and stored in clay jars that were buried beneath the ground ^{[citation needed]}. This local specialty remained confined to the region until the arrival of the Turks, who took this nourishing drink and spread it far and wide under the name boza, a word deriving from the Persian word buze meaning millet. Boza enjoyed its golden age under the Ottomans, and boza making became one of the principal trades in towns and cities from the early Ottoman period. Until the 16^th century boza was drunk freely everywhere, but the custom of making the so-called Tartar boza laced with opium brought the wrath of the authorities down on the drink, and it was prohibited by Sultan Selim II (1566-1574). Image File history File links Size of this preview: 536 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (581 × 650 pixel, file size: 200 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boza ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 536 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (581 × 650 pixel, file size: 200 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boza ... Nickname: Motto: Patria si Dreptul Meu (My Country and My Right) Location of Bucharest within Romania (in red) Coordinates: , Country County Founded 1459 (first official mentioned) Government  - Mayor Adriean Videanu Area  - City 228 km²  (88 sq mi)  - Metro 238 km² (91. ... Anatolia and Europe Anatolia (Turkish: from Greek: Ανατολία - Anatolia) is a peninsula of Western Asia which forms the greater part of the Asian portion of Turkey, as opposed to the European portion (Thrace, or traditionally Rumelia). ... For other uses, see Mesopotamia (disambiguation). ... “Ottoman” redirects here. ... Sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings. ... Selim II (Ottoman Turkish: سليم ثانى SelÄ«m-i sānÄ«, Turkish:)(May 28, 1524 – December 12, 1574) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death. ...

In the 17th century Sultan Mehmed IV (1648-1687) prohibited alcoholic drinks, in which category he included boza, and closed down all the boza shops. The 17th century Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi tells us that boza was widely drunk at this time, and that there were 300 boza shops employing 1005 people in Istanbul alone. He also describes a type of non-alcoholic sweet boza of a milk white color made for the most part by Albanians. At this period boza was widely drunk by janissaries in the army. Boza contained only a low level of alcohol, so as long as it was not consumed in sufficient quantities to cause drunkenness, it was tolerated on the grounds that it was a warming and strengthening beverage for soldiers. As Evliya Çelebi explained, 'These boza makers are numerous in the army. To drink sufficient boza to cause intoxication is sinful but, unlike wine, in small quantities it is not condemned.' In the 19th century the sweet and non-alcoholic Albanian boza preferred at the Ottoman palace became increasingly popular, while the sour and alcoholic type of boza that had generally been produced by the Armenians went out of favor. In 1876 Haci Ibrahim and Haci Sadik brothers established a boza shop in the Istanbul district of Vefa, close to the then center of entertainment, Direklerarası. This boza, with its thick consistency and tart flavor, became famous throughout the city, and is the only boza shop dating from that period still in business today. The firm is now run by Haci Sadik and Haci Ibrahim's great- great-grandchildren. Sultan Mehmed IV Mehmed IV (also known as Dördüncü, fourth, and Avci, hunter) (January 2, 1642–1693) (Arabic: محمد الرابع) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687. ... Evliya Çelebi (اوليا چلبي; also known as DerviÅŸ Mehmed Zılli) (March 25, 1611–1682) was the most famous Ottoman traveler, having journeyed throughout the territories of the Ottoman Empire and the neighbouring lands over a period of forty years. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ...

"Vefa" shop, located in the Istanbul district of Vefa, is now a minor tourist attraction. Karakedi Bozacısı of Eskişehir, Akman Boza Salonu of Ankara and Soydan of Pazarcık, Bilecik are less famous but well known other vendors in Turkey. EskiÅŸehir (eskÄ“shehÄ“r, Latin: Dorylaeum, Greek: Δορύλαιον, Dorylaion) is a city in northwest Turkey and the capital of EskiÅŸehir Province. ... Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the countrys second largest city after Ä°stanbul. ... Bilecik is the provincial capital of Turkeys Bilecik Province. ...

The most famous boza shop in Macedonia is "Apche", located in Debar Maalo area, near the Universal Hall in Skopje.^[1] The shop was founded by Isman Kadri in 1934. People called him Apche (the pill), jokingly claiming that his boza is a cure for all ills. He renamed the shop in 1940.^[2] Other famous boza hotspots in Skopje are "Palma" and "Sheherezada." Besides ethnic Albanians, boza-making tradition is also present among ethnic Macedonians. One of the characters in the 1928 play Lence Kumanovce/Begalka (Lenche of Kumanovo, AKA Eloped Bride) by Vasil Iljoski is Trendo, the boza-vendor. ^[3] Location of the city of Skopje (green) in the Republic of Macedonia Government  - Mayor Trifun Kostovski Area  - City 1,818 km²  (701. ... Vasil Iljoski (1902-1995) is an important figure in the Macedonian literature and especially in Macedonian drama between the two World Wars. ...

Production and storage

A bottle of Bulgarian boza.

Boza is produced in most Turkic regions, but not always using millet. The flavour varies according to the cereal which is used. In Kirghizia, for instance, boza is made with crushed wheat, in the Crimea with wheat flour, and in Turkmenistan with coarsely ground rice meal. In Albania it is made only by maize and a small part of grain flour. Vefa boza, as it is known, is made only from hulled millet, which is boiled in water and then poured into broad shallow pans. When cool the mixture is sieved, and water and sugar added. In a scientific study of boza carried out by the Turkish Science and Technology Institute for Vefa Bozacisi, the drink was found to be extremely healthy and nourishing. One litre of boza contains a thousand calories, four types of vitamins A and B, and vitamin E. During fermentation lactic acid, which is contained by few foods, is formed, and this facilitates digestion.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1236x2032, 432 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boza Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1236x2032, 432 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boza Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Pearl millet in the field The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. ... For the production of milk by mammals, see Lactation. ...

As boza spoils if not kept in a cool place, boza fermenters in Turkey (traditionally) don't sell boza in summer months and sell alternative beverages such as grape juice or lemonade. However, it is now available in summer time due to demand and availability of refrigeration. In Albania and Macedonia, however, boza is produced as refreshing beverage year-round.

Controversy

alex Boza allegedly has the ability to enlarge women's breasts.^[4] It is also recommended to women during their lactation period soon after they give birth as boza stimulates the production of milk.

Notes and references

See also

• Macedonian cuisine
• Turkish cuisine
• Bulgarian cuisine

v • d • e Boza in cuisine of Turkey
For more information, see the article about;Turkish cuisine, Category:Turkish cuisine, Category:Turkish cuisine stubs.
v • d • e Turkish beverages For more information, see ;Category:Turkish cuisine beverages. v • d • e Turkish Non-alcohol beverages Ayran · Boza · Cacık · Cola Turka · Compote · Hoşaf · Kefir · Pekmez · Rize Tea · Salep · Şerbet · Şıra · Turkish coffee · Turkish tea · Şalgam juice v • d • e Turkish alcoholic beverages v • d • e Turkish hard-alcohol beverages Rakı · Kımız v • d • e Turkish wines Çalkarası · Kalecik Karası · Kavaklıdere (wine) · Öküzgözü · Boğazkere v • d • e Turkish low alcohol drinks Efes Beverage Group · Tekel Birası · Turkish beer List of Turkish beverages
Turkish cuisine related topics
Beverage • Instrument • Habit • Restaurant
Kebab • Meze • Charcuterie • Dolma and Sarma • Dessert • Soup • Köfte • Salad • Pilav • Pasta • Pastry • Vegetable dish • Egg dish • Vegetabled meat • Roasted meat • Chicken • Seafood • Cheese and milk product
Turkish cuisine related articles