Unlike most soft drinks you can buy today, boza is a completely natural, healthy, and refreshing drink full of vitamins. You can even say it’s a kind of an elixir.
Boza originated in the East, and it’s been around for thousands of years. The Balkans were first introduced to boza when oriental influences started mixing with Balkan culture. Ever since then, you could get a glass of boza at pretty much every cafe or pastry shop.
Everyone who grew up in these parts certainly remembers quenching their thirst on a hot summer day with a cool glass of fresh boza. If you want to stop drinking those oversugared soda pops and other unhealthy drinks, boza can be a perfect replacement. The natural ingredients provide a fresh sweetness that industrial drinks cannot replace, and we all know how they can be bad for you.
Boza contains a high dose of mixed vitamins. These include vitamin B (B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12), vitamin A, and vitamin E. Also, it has plenty of iron, giving our bodies enough strength for the day. Don’t forget a high amount of useful bacteria – benefiting athletes, pregnant women, and many others.
Boza Drink Recipe
We are happy to give you a recipe for homemade boza. It’s simple and easy to make, the ingredients are cheap, and most importantly, you get to enjoy a tasty, natural refreshment in the comfort of your home.
Ingredients:
- 5 liters of water
- 400 grams of sugar
- 4 spoons of cornflour
- 1 spoon of wheat flour
- 30 g of yeast
How to make:
Step 1: Take a large pot (around 7 liters) and fill it with 5 liters of water. Let boil.
Step 2: Take a bowl and put 4 spoons of cornflour together with one spoon of regular wheat flour and mix it with a bit of water. It should resemble a pudding mix.
Step 3: Put the mix into boiling water and stir. Lower the temperature and cook for half an hour with occasional stirring.
Step 4: While the boza is cooking, prepare the yeast by mixing it with a little warm water and sugar and letting it rise. When the cooking is done, add the yeast mix and let it sit for a day. After that, strain the liquid.
Step 5: Now its time to prepare the sugar. It needs to be slightly caramelized and added to half a liter of water to boil. When it’s done, cool it down and add it to the strained boza liquid. Stir everything well and pour it into bottles (preferably glass).
Due to the presence of yeast in the mix, boza cannot remain sweet for a long time. We recommend you keep it in the fridge at all times and make only the amount you plan to drink in the following few days. Boza is best served cold, but without ice. Adding cinnamon is an option, it depends on your taste.
Hint: if you have some boza left that you don’t want to drink, save it! When you prepare the next batch of this goodness, you will not need yeast because the leftover boza can act as a substitute. We hope you enjoy and share the recipe with your family and friends.
If you like this drink, you will definitely love other traditional Balkan specialties we prepare at Rakija Grill Serbian Restaurant in Miami. Come give us a visit and enjoy a unique fusion of eastern and western flavors in the heart of Miami.
