VIDEO: Is rakija an important part of Croatian culture?

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When associating a drink with Croatia, rakija – the potent spirit produced from fermented fruit – is usually the first off everyone’s lips. 

For some, especially in rural Croatia, the day does not start without a shot of the ‘holy water’ accompanying a morning coffee. 

There are various types of rakija, like šljivovica, made from plums, loza, made from grapes, orahovica, made from walnuts, travarica, made from plants and rakija made from pears.

Rakija made from walnuts

Croatians love to welcome guests by offering, or more like forcing, them to have a shot of rakija. Rakija has an image as an all-encompassing cure for physical and emotional pain and is popular as a remedy for things like a toothache, stomach problems and other pains. 

Stanko Zovak from the All Things Croatia podcast took to the streets of Zagreb recently to ask locals if rakija is an important part of Croatian culture. 

Check out what some locals had to say in the video below (video has English subtitles).