Five interesting beverages you can try in Croatia

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Croatia is a place where one can savour many culinary delights. Indeed, gastronomy is, in addition to the sights of its natural beauty and the warm and friendly character of its people, one of the main attractions that bring visitors from all over the globe to Croatia. In addition to its wines, which are considered to be serious competitors in different wine expositions and fairs, on a par with some of the best wines in the world, Croatia also offers other types of beverages. Below you can see a list of five well-known and well-loved regional favourites that you might not find on every menu.
Gemišt
This iconic beverage is more popular in the continental parts of Croatia. It is prepared by mixing carbonated mineral water and white wine, and there are different variations according to the water to wine ratio. For example, “sportski” is a gemišt with a significantly higher proportion of water, meant, as the name might jokingly suggest, for sporty people, while “škropec” (from the verb “škropiti, meaning “to sprinkle”) usually consists of one decilitre of wine mixed with a few drops of water. Gemišt is served well-chilled, and it is the perfect refreshment on a hot summer day.
Bermet
Bermet is an aromatic beverage with a wine base, originating from Samobor, a picturesque old town near Zagreb. The tradition of preparing bermet in Samobor has a long history: it can be traced two hundred years in the past. The drink itself is of a deep red colour, with a scent dominated by herbal notes, while its bitter-sweet taste is reminiscent of another drink popular in Croatia – pelinkovac, a bitter-sweet herbal liquer. It is often drunk as an aperitif before meals, and it is frequently regarded as a welcome accompaniment to various friendly gatherings.
Bevanda and bambus
The preparation of these drinks is based on the similar concept of mixing red wine with a non-alcoholic ingredient. In the case of bevanda, red wine is mixed with water in different ratios, while bambus, also known as calimocho or kalimotxo in other parts of the world, is red wine mixed with Coca-Cola (or another soda similar to Coca-Cola).
Gvirc
Gvirc, gverc, or medovina (mead) is not as common as the other drinks on this list, but it is well-known and well-loved in the north-west part of Croatia, and in the area surrounding Zagreb, where people have been making it for centuries. The drink itself is one of the oldest drinks in the world, and it is made from grapes, honey, and water. Its taste depends on the type of honey it contains, and it is traditionally regarded not only as a tasty drink, but also as a drink providing considerable health benefits, due to the antibacterial properties of honey.
Bikla
It is considered that bikla, a traditional Dalmatian drink, was prepared as refreshment as far back as in Ancient Greece. It is traditionally prepared by mixing fresh grape must and goat milk, but cow milk can also be used. Even thoug bikla is not as popular today, there are active endeavours in towns such as Vrgorac in the south of Croatia to make the drink popular once again through events such as Dani bikle (“Bikla Days”) and Biklijada, where one can, among other things, sample this unique drink.