Irish cuisine. Irish drinks Irish national drink

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Ireland? Clover and ... That's right, the famous alcoholic drinks of Ireland! Irish whiskey and Guinness beer. They have become the hallmark of the island. Guinness is perhaps the most famous beer in the world, and Irish whiskey is part of the Baileys liqueur and Irish coffee - two of the most "Irish" drinks outside of Ireland.

The first mention of whiskey dates back to the 12th century, it is one of the oldest European spirits, and the first licensed whiskey distillery will celebrate its 400th anniversary next year. The official opening of the Bushmills distillery took place on April 20, 1608. The Irishman Thomas Philips received from King James I the highest royal license for the production of uisce beatha - the water of life.

The most famous brands of Irish whiskey are Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, Paddis and, of course, Jameson. All of them, unlike Scotch whiskey, are triple distilled and therefore are more pure. As the arrogant Irish say, Irish whiskey is made to drink, and Scotch whiskey is made to wash cars. Let's leave it up to them.

Real Irish whiskey, after triple distillation, matures in wooden barrels for at least five years. The smallest pores of wood allow whiskey to "breathe" and oxidize ethanol, creating a unique taste and aroma. Interestingly, you can’t take new barrels for this. For example, the Bushmills plant purchases used containers in the United States, in Kentucky, after the production of bourbon. Each such barrel costs about $100, but it cannot be used more than three times.

Baileys liqueur is very young compared to whiskey. In 2015, this brand celebrated its 40th anniversary. But in the modern world, where new names appear almost daily, 40 years is a serious age, given that the popularity of Baileys and the demand for it only grows over the years. Now it is one of the most popular cream liqueurs in the world, which is especially loved by women for its softness. Indeed, the composition of "Baileys" invariably includes only Irish whiskey, fresh cream, sugar, vanilla and cocoa. The recipe is very simple, but the ratio of ingredients is kept in strict confidence, and so far no one has managed to surpass the original liquor. The main rule is not to dilute Baileys with juices and mineral water so that the cream does not curdle, and not to get carried away with the quantity - this liquor is one of the most high-calorie alcoholic drinks - there are as many calories in one hundred grams as in a piece of cake.

Whiskey is an important component of such a famous drink as Irish coffee. In cold, dank weather, nothing warms better. It is said to have been invented by bartender Joseph Sheridan at Ireland's Shannon International Airport. He added whiskey to sweet coffee and topped it all off with a dollop of whipped cream. It turned out delicious, invigorating and warming. Now there are many variations of this recipe, but the following ratio is considered a classic: for 170 grams of strong coffee, 40 grams of Irish whiskey and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar are taken. Everything is thoroughly mixed until sugar dissolves, preferably poured into a special pot-bellied glass Irish-glass on a leg, but it can also be into an ordinary mug, and topped with a layer of thick whipped cream. It is better to drink it through a straw - it tastes better, and coffee under a layer of cream does not cool longer. However, in the heat, a cold version is also perfect - with a couple of ice cubes.

Guinness beer is another drink that made Ireland famous all over the world. However, connoisseurs say that the true taste of this dark thick beer can only be tasted in a pub near the brewery itself. During transportation, the beer loses its taste greatly, and the beer made under license turns into a pitiful likeness of the original drink. And, perhaps, the point here is the unique soft water from the lakes of County Wicklow. Or in a recipe that has been preserved for more than 300 years - roasted barley, malt, yeast and water. Visitors to the Guinness Storehouse, one of the most popular tourist sites in Dublin, and throughout Ireland, can check whether this is true or not. It was discovered by Diageo, the owner of such brands as Bayleys and Smirnoff, which at the end of the 20th century bought the Guinness brand from the Guinness family, who had owned the brewery for five generations. It was a good deal, given that the family has done a lot to popularize their product around the world, including the Guinness Book of Records.

This beer is included in the recipe of the famous cocktail, invented, apparently, by lovers of all things Irish under the name "Irish Depth Charge". The glass is filled to the middle with Guinness beer, Irish whiskey and Baileys liquor are mixed in equal proportions in a pile. After that, the stack is carefully lowered into a glass and very quickly, until Baileys is curled up, they drink a cocktail. The effect of an exploding bomb is guaranteed.

The Irish are famous for their love of alcoholic beverages. And their original toasts.

When you drink, you get tired

When you're tired, you fall asleep

When you sleep, you don't sin

When you don't sin, you go to heaven.

So let's drink to go to heaven!

Ireland is far from the most popular tourist destination. But Ireland is a country with a long history, which has made a huge contribution to the development of world culture and art. This country is also called the "Emerald Isle", since almost the entire territory of Ireland is covered with greenery all year round due to a very mild climate. In Irish, the name of the island sounds like "Erin". A huge rocky coast with gray boulders, a completely calm ocean, a green valley covered with clover, a hill on which stands a lonely house, and a deep, all-consuming silence, broken only by your breath and a slight breeze - this is a typical Irish landscape, for the sake of which tourists, exhausted by the noise of the metropolis and office everyday life, go to this country every year. The most important sights of Ireland are, of course, its rare natural resources.
By the way, experienced travelers claim that the greenest grass in the world is in Ireland, here you can find several hundred shades of this eye-pleasing color. By the way, the saying that “the neighbor’s grass is always greener” completely loses its relevance here, because everyone here has green grass. Ancient castles have been preserved in almost every Irish county, some of them are currently converted into VIP - hotels.
In addition, tourists from all over the world are attracted by peculiar local traditions and world-famous pubs and restaurants, which are considered a traditional place for meetings and communication of local residents. Travelers are attracted by the opportunity to see real ghosts, because according to the locals, every palace and castle his "domesticated" mystical character. Here they firmly believe in everything mystical, because, according to legend, you can’t laugh at ghosts, this can bring misfortune to the whole family. Although cynics and completely devoid of a romantic touch, people argue that this is just a well-thought-out commercial move to attract tourists. By the way, if you decide to book a hotel in Ireland, you will definitely be asked if you want an apartment with or without haunted ones, and the first method of accommodation will cost more.

Irish traditions

Ireland is a country with a huge number of folk customs, many of which have been preserved since the days of the ancient Celts. One of the most striking examples of such traditions is fairs, which are usually accompanied by folk dances and performances by magicians, acrobats and musicians. Such events are held either in the market and market squares, or in the city center. Most guidebooks warn tourists about the possibility of petty pickpocketing when visiting fairs, so we recommend that you do not take large sums of money with you and carefully monitor your belongings. the doors of the houses are open so that everyone who enters feels like a long-awaited guest. During the holidays, Ireland is immersed in an atmosphere of absolute trust.

They greet each other here also in a special way: first, the index finger rises up, then they nod their heads and only then shake hands. All entertainment establishments such as bars, cinemas and restaurants are non-smoking, and this ban also applies to a number of hotels. By the way, according to tradition, drinks in bars are bought not only for oneself - it is customary to treat other visitors here as well, this is considered a sign of good taste. But if you are a birthday person, then you can relax, with the Irish, friends usually treat alcohol to someone who has a birthday on that day, and not vice versa. Not a bad custom, don't you think? Among other things, you should remember that the Irish value punctuality very much, so go to all meetings in advance and try not to be late, this can be regarded as an insult and disrespectful attitude. By the way, the best topics to talk to politics, family, sports or hobbies will become natives. You should not start a conversation with the Irish about feminism or religion. And God forbid you mention the relationship between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in a conversation! By the way, the Irish believe that August is the first month of autumn, and not the last day of summer, we do not recommend you argue with them on this topic.

It was in Ireland, or rather, at Shannon Airport, that the world's first duty-free shop (Duty Free) appeared. The well-known word "boycott" has Irish roots: in 1880, Charles Boycott introduced a strict system of fines for his workers who were on strike against high rents. In response to this, society completely isolated Charles: his neighbors did not talk to him, he was not served in shops, no one sat next to him in church. Since then, the word "boycott" as a form of protest has taken root in many languages ​​of the world. And another distinctive feature of Ireland is the large red-haired population. So if you are a redhead, you are unlikely to be teased at school and sing after the song “red-red, freckled ..”. But if you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, then at school they can beat you for this, especially since this is not prohibited. These are the rules. By the way, Ireland is the only European country in which there are more dogs than people.

Irish pub

Pubs are part of the national Irish culture. This is an institution that has a license to sell alcoholic beverages, which are usually consumed on the spot. Since the 1980s, Irish pubs have spread all over the world, now in almost every more or less large city you can find a similar drinking establishment. Most of the pubs are located in North America, which were founded there in the 1840s by Irish immigrants. The most traditional alcoholic drink served in such establishments is Irish beer. In addition, here you can find ale or cider. Of the snacks, salted nuts and potato chips are considered the most popular. In the evenings, live music in the national style is played in Irish pubs. Irish pubs date back to the beginning of the nineteenth century, at that time an anti-alcohol campaign was carried out in the country, and the owners of shops selling alcohol suffered losses due to declining sales of alcohol. Until the advent of supermarkets in the 1960s, Irish pubs were in most cases called "grocers" (Spirit Grocer), and the drinking establishment itself was located in the same room as a workshop, or a grocery store, or some other main business of the owner. . It is noteworthy that gravediggers were often the owners of pubs, and this tradition is still preserved. The interior of modern Irish pubs is designed in the spirit of the mid-nineteenth century: a bar with shelves behind it, which occupies almost the entire room, and a small space designed to accommodate visitors.
As a rule, a pub is a family business that is passed down from generation to generation and almost always bears the name of its current owner or founder, although it happens that it can be named after some public figure or the name of the street on which it is located . The exterior decoration is made using national architectural features, such as small round turrets. The only “but”: in 1990, most of the Irish pubs were reconstructed in order to make these establishments convenient for tourists, so many well-known establishments lost their original appearance. alcoholic beverages appeared food. Until that time, it was not customary for the Irish to eat out, and tourists mostly ate in hotels. But even now, some rural pubs adhere to the traditional menu, in which only light snacks are offered for alcoholic drinks. For decades, the Irish pub has been the center of the social life of every small town or village. It was not only a place where one could have a drink or two after a hard day at work, but also spend free time, meet and chat with friends and learn the latest news. Often, pub-goers know the owner very well, either serving customers himself or with a few assistants, so the atmosphere and communication style is mostly informal. And for the note to tourists: in pubs it is not customary to leave a tip for service.

Irish coffee

Irish coffee, although indirectly related to alcoholic beverages, certainly deserves close attention, especially considering that it has a very interesting history of appearance. This drink is indispensable for those who are cold. First, a warm wave of cream touches you, through which hot coffee penetrates, and at the finish - a light dope and a tingle of Irish whiskey. Sweet, bitter and slightly scalding drink. The coastal village of Foynes, located in County Limerick, is considered the place of origin of this invigorating drink. Foynes has a major seaport that in the mid-1930s was used to receive seaplanes between the US and Europe. Often, Foynes was only a staging post, and passengers were forced to change boats to get to shore. Accordingly, in bad weather they were very cold. It soon became clear that for passengers waiting for a flight, a restaurant that would offer visitors delicious and hot food is simply vital. So, in 1942, an institution was opened in Foynes, which was managed by chef Joe Sheridan.

“Once upon a cold winter time” ... In general, on one especially chilly winter evening, the seaplane, which had already taken off for Newfoundland, was forced to return back. Everything would be fine, but the passengers, who had just made their way by boat to the plane, had to again get out of the heat into the damp and cold air of the North Atlantic. The restaurant was in full combat readiness: passengers needed to be warmed up urgently and fed with delicious and hot food! That's when Joe Sheridan came up with the brilliant idea to add a couple of drops of whiskey to his coffee. One of the passengers, surprised by the aroma and original taste of the drink, asked: “Is this Brazilian coffee?” To which Joe proudly declared: “No, this is Irish coffee!” Since then, Irish coffee has become the official drink of the Foyn airport. The airport soon closed as the era of seaplanes ended and conventional aircraft became available. But soon a new airport was built near Foynes, which is now called Shannon International Airport. But traditions have been preserved - everyone arriving in Ireland is greeted with the famous Joe Sheridan drink. In America, Irish coffee appeared thanks to friends Jack Copler and Stanton Delaplane. To recreate the recipe for their favorite drink, which they tried more than once at Shannon Airport, they had to fly "on a bow" to Joe Sheridan himself. It seems to be ordinary coffee, but to prepare it you need to know a couple of secrets. Cream for coffee should be knocked down only slightly, otherwise it will sink at the bottom of the glass. Well, the most important secret of Irish coffee is to pour cream into coffee with smooth movements, be sure to put the back of the spoon under the cream stream. That is, pouring cream should not be in coffee, but on the back of the spoon. This is the only way to get this famous Irish drink. By the way, Irish coffee is very common in the United States: in the famous cafe on Hyde Beach, two thousand servings of this drink are prepared daily, and in fifty years of work, the number of cups has approached thirty-two million.

Brewing in Ireland

Ireland gave the world the famous Guinness stout (Guinness), which now occupies about eighty-five percent of the country's beer market. According to the story, Conor Mac Ness, who lived in the first century BC, who managed Ireland, led a lifestyle that modern couch potatoes could only envy. He watched sports competitions for a third of the day, spent a third of the day playing board games, and the rest of the time he drank ale. Saint Patrick during his lifetime was also considered an admirer of this intoxicating drink and even kept a personal brewer as a servant. , another patroness of Ireland, talks about the miracles that she worked in brewing. For example, from just one bag of malt, Brigitte could brew Easter ale for seventeen churches at once, and of the highest quality.

The Irish brewing industry now employs about 100,000 people, which is a lot for Ireland, which is not very densely populated. Excise duties, together with income tax, make a good contribution to the country's overall budget, for example, in 2003 this amount amounted to almost two million euros. Ireland is famous throughout the world for one type of beer - a stout, or, as it is also called, a porter. For the first time this drink appeared in the 18th century in England, but after some time Ireland won a leading position in terms of its export to all countries of the world. Now Dublin is sometimes called the capital of porter.

Guinness was the first to bottle beer using carbon dioxide and nitrogen pressure. It happened in the sixties of the twentieth century. This system is currently used throughout the world to serve ale and stout. Before this method was invented, beer was served using two barrels: first, the glass was filled two-thirds full with the old spent drink from the bottom barrel, and then topped up with fresh sparkling stout from the barrel that was on top. Of course, the drink produced today is different with its strength and density from what was customary to drink during the Second World War. As connoisseurs say, a modern stout is just a pale copy of what you could try in an Irish pub before. By the way, if you want to watch the wonders of physics, then pour a bottle of Guinness beer into a transparent glass: due to the use of nitrogen, the bubbles will go down the walls down instead of up. Fascinating spectacle!

Irish whiskey

Of course, this is the hallmark of Irish spirits. The very first patent for its production was issued in 1608. In those days, the main condition for obtaining a patent was the so-called “kickback”, which looked like a share of the type of activity, or in other words royalty - “royal share”. A distinctive feature of this drink is the use of a mixture of barley and malt as a raw material. For example, in Scotland, barley and malt spirits are distilled separately and only then mixed, while in Ireland this process takes place at the production stage, which gives the drink a mild taste with a sweetish tint. In addition to single malt and grain whiskey, there is a local invention in Ireland - the so-called pure whiskey from an alembic or pure pot still. It is made in copper cubes using the batch distillation method. In local drinking establishments, it is customary to serve a glass of cold water to a glass of this famous alcoholic drink so that the client can dilute it to an acceptable concentration on their own. Serving ice with this alcoholic drink is not customary here. And if you place an order, then you should name the type of drink. And one more important addition: the Irish do not drink alcohol in one gulp and quickly. Here it is customary to enjoy the taste of the drink in order to fully appreciate its quality.

Irish liqueurs

Irish liqueurs and cream liqueurs are whiskey-based. In most textbooks for bartenders, a group of these drinks is combined under one name - "Irish Cream". Additional ingredients, as a rule, are cream, coffee and classic creams. The famous Baileys appeared relatively recently - in 1975, and thanks to its soft creamy taste with a hint of coffee and a small strength (only seventeen degrees), it instantly won the hearts of connoisseurs of good alcohol. Of course, to a greater extent, this applies to the beautiful half of humanity, because liquor is more of a ladies' drink. It can be consumed both in pure form and in combination with coffee, mixed with crushed ice or used as one of the components of cocktails. Another famous drink is Irish Mist, which includes a large number of herbs collected in the fields of Ireland, and heather honey. According to the legends, it was this drink that the Irish medieval warriors drank. It was believed that it has healing properties, strengthens the immune system and promotes the rapid healing of wounds. This drink is quite strong - somewhere around thirty-five degrees - and in addition to traditional use, it is widely used for making desserts. *** Ireland is simply an amazing country with a rich culture and history, stunning nature and a unique, slightly mystical atmosphere. As Samuil Marshak wrote in his memoirs: “After a long and non-stop stay in England, nothing can refresh the soul so free and deserted Ireland.” If you are just planning your next vacation and do not know where to go, then turn your eyes towards Ireland. We assure you that the impressions left from visiting this country will last you until the end of your days. And you will definitely never forget this trip. And, of course, include a tasting of Ireland's famous spirits in your plan.

Everyone has probably heard of Ireland in one way or another. Some red-haired men, alcohol and the shortest joke in the world immediately come to mind (“The Irishman walked past the bar”). Meanwhile, not everything is so simple with this country. If only because there are two Irelands. One is today part of the United Kingdom and is called Northern Ireland with its capital in Belfast. The other is the Republic of Ireland, which broke away from Great Britain after a stubborn struggle for independence, with its capital in Dublin. Moreover, both Irelands are ... on the same island. And that is not all! Interested? Then read this article 🙂

Ireland is a country of harsh, but unusually kind and friendly people, a place of equally harsh, but no less beautiful nature. We invite you to learn a little more about this mysterious northern country.

1. Not so many redheads in Ireland!

Seriously, there are only about eight to ten percent of them, that is, about one in ten. No more! Agree, quite a standard figure.

2. Remember Count Dracula? Well, he's Irish!

Or rather, not quite so, because Dracula has a real historical prototype - the Transylvanian prince Vlad Tepes. But initially the legends about vampires originated in Ireland - this is a long-standing character in their folklore.

3. Pirate queen Grace O'Malley is from Ireland

The legendary pirate queen Granual has a real prototype - an Irish woman named Grace from the O'Malley clan. She was a very cruel, strong and strong-willed pirate! Even the most formidable sea thugs were afraid of her.

4. Irish people love tea more than whiskey.

Irish alcoholism is something akin to the fact that all Russians drink vodka right on the streets of snow-covered cities. That is a stereotype. The Irish, of course, are not fools to drink in some good pub, they also belong to the so-called vodka belt, but more than anything else in the world, the Irish love tea. More than in this country, tea is drunk a year only in the Republic of Turkey.

5. Irish people love St. Patrick's Day.

This is the favorite national celebration of the Irish people. On this day, large-scale folk festivals, festivals and marches take place throughout the country. If one day you manage to fly to Ireland on this day, you will be incredibly amazed, we assure you! 🙂

6. Most of all, Guinness beer is drunk not in Ireland, but in ... Africa!

More specifically, in Nigeria, because it is there that the iconic Irish company now brews its beer. That's it!

7. Clover is the national symbol of the Irish people

The three-leaf clover is the national symbol of Ireland. The second most popular symbol is the Celtic cross. For comparison, in Europe, followers of neo-Nazism mainly designate themselves with this sign.

As you can see, Ireland is a very special and distinctive country! And what do you know about this harsh, but such an unusual and attractive land?

Little is known about Irish cuisine in Russia. The main stereotypes about her are potatoes, Irish coffee and Irish stew made famous by Jerome K. Jerome. And of course, the sea of ​​various beers, which is customary to drink in pubs. In Ireland, they even joke that the only business that will be successful here is a pub.

Despite the remoteness of our countries, Russian and Irish cuisines are very similar. Perhaps this is due to a not very friendly climate, or perhaps a similar national character and the many difficulties that have befallen our peoples. The basis of both cuisines is bread, meat, vegetables, among which the main role belongs to the ubiquitous potatoes and cabbage. In difficult years, both the Russians and the Irish were saved by mar (quinoa). The ancient kinship of our cultures is especially clearly seen in the example of a traditional honey drink. In Ireland, it was called mid (Mead), prepared by fermenting a honey solution and had a strength of 8% to 18%. The mid could be dry, sweet, semi-sweet, even bubbly. Exactly the same mead was brewed in Rus' before the spread of vodka.

There is another interesting moment in the history of Irish alcoholic drinks: Fulacht fiadh. Buildings with this unreadable name were built by the Celts long before our era. More than 4,000 have been found in Ireland. Fulacht fiadh is a shallow well dug near a river, near which there is fuel and many stones. Scientists are still not sure about the purpose of these structures, but they are inclined to believe that these were the first breweries, although it is believed that game was cooked in the water pits. Judge for yourself: if you put stones heated on a fire in a pit with water, what can be cooked - boiled meat or beer?

Since those distant times, the skill of the Irish in the manufacture of strong drinks has increased many times over. Having mastered the art of distillation as early as the 5th century, the Irish developed their own unique whiskey recipes. In addition to single malt and single grain whiskey, Ireland produces a unique Pure Pot Still whiskey. This is a special variety, which includes green barley and malt. This whiskey can only be tasted in Ireland.

The most famous drink of the Emerald Isle is, of course, Guinness beer, a symbol of fun and St. Patrick's Day. According to legend, the correct "Guinness" should be so dark that only a ray of the sun or light reflected by a real diamond can penetrate it. Of course, the production technology of this beer has changed a lot since the 18th century, but you can get an idea of ​​​​the original Arthur Guinness drink by tasting Guinness Original / Extra Stout - the variety closest to that very porter. Based on their favorite beer, the Irish created many killer cocktails: Black Velvet (Guinness and Champagne), Black Velvet for the Poor (Guinness and Cider), Black Russian (Guinness and Vodka), Velvet Pussy (Guinness and Port). ). There is even a mixture of Guinness and milk called Dog hair. Guinness is widely used in cooking: it is added to pastries, meat is stewed in it.

Even coffee in Ireland is prepared not just like that, but stronger. Irish coffee is actually a cocktail where 1 part Irish whiskey is 2 parts black coffee. Brown sugar and cream are added for taste. This recipe is registered by the International Association of Bartenders and is used in all respectable establishments in the world.

The union of whiskey and coffee is also used in another Irish invention - Irish cream liqueur. In Russia, only one of the delicate cream liqueurs, Baileys, is widely known, although connoisseurs prefer Carolans and Saint Brendan's. Irish cream is tasty enough to drink it just like that, with ice, and is quite versatile for making cocktails: with Scotch whiskey, bourbon, coffee and caramel liqueurs.

Speaking of Irish liqueurs, one cannot fail to mention Irish Mist - Irish fog. It is prepared on the basis of whiskey with the addition of local herbs, clover and heather honey. According to the manufacturer, this is the same legendary heather honey, the recipe of which was forgotten in the 17th century and accidentally found in the 1940s.

The most unusual and ancient Irish drink is the so-called Irish moonshine - potin (Poitín) with a strength of 60-95%. Until 1997, the sale of this infernal potion was banned in Ireland, and in Northern Ireland the ban is still in effect. Potin is considered one of the strongest drinks in the world and is made from potatoes, sugar and yeast.

But enough about drinks, there is something to be surprised about in Irish cuisine too. The most interesting Irish dishes appeared in the "pre-potato" period. Then the basis of the diet of the Irish was barley, oats and root crops: beets, turnips, celery, carrots. Widely used nuts, wild berries: raspberries, mountain ash, gooseberries, currants, strawberries; and herbs: nettle, quinoa, dandelion, sorrel, rosemary.

Ireland has always had a special relationship with bread. Here, for some reason, yeast and sourdough are not honored. Instead, baking soda is used. Perhaps because soft wheat prevails here, with a small amount of gluten. Adding potatoes, barley and oatmeal to bread also does not contribute to its splendor. Only soft white rolls with the funny name Blaa and sweet bread with raisins - Barmbrack are prepared with yeast. The famous Irish dessert, Goody, is made from bread. Pieces of bread are boiled in milk with sugar and spices - nothing should be wasted on the farm.

Meat in Ireland until recently was the privilege of the rich. Offal, blood, sometimes poultry and game remained poor: seals, badgers, hares. Small game and poultry were usually cooked over an open fire in clay, while larger prey and fish were fried on an apple skewer or sent to soup. Meat dishes were rare, desirable, and taken very seriously. Such, for example, is black pudding (blood sausage), which was prepared from barley, oats and fresh blood of cows, pigs, sheep and other domestic animals. (When it was necessary to refresh quickly, the Irish, like the warriors of the Masai tribe, bled a cow and drank it with milk.) Black pudding was fried, boiled and even eaten raw. This controversial dish is still considered part of the traditional Irish breakfast. In modern Ireland, they love it so much that they cook "advanced" versions: yellow pudding with turmeric and goat cheese and green pudding with herbs. These delicacies are usually served on the 10th and 11th birthdays of children.

When there was not enough money for meat, the Irish did not lose heart, but prepared delicious dishes from cheap parts of the carcass: tails, ears, kidneys, offal and all sorts of scraps. It required skills, time and a complete lack of disgust. The clearest example is the crubeens, an appetizer for beer made from pork legs, a dish that is extremely long to prepare and difficult to eat, but surprisingly juicy and satisfying.

The opposite is true in Ireland now: consumption of fatty red meat and eggs has reached such levels that obesity has become a national concern. A typical Irish breakfast consists of several meaty and high-calorie foods: bacon, sausage or sausages, black or white pudding, scrambled eggs, toast or potato bread, fried mushrooms or tomatoes, sometimes liver or beans are added for satiety.

For centuries, the main source of animal proteins for the Irish was fish and other seafood: lobsters, oysters, crabs, shrimp, seaweed. In Irish restaurants, you can try an interesting dish - Dublin Lawyer. It's a lobster stewed in cream and whiskey. Oyster festivals are regularly held in Ireland, where mountains of delicious seafood are eaten and barrels of beer are drunk. As for fish, despite the proximity of the sea, the Irish are unpretentious - they prefer salmon, cod, herring.

You can still buy red algae Dulse in Irish health food stores. This product is remarkable in that it contains almost all trace elements, vitamins and even proteins necessary for a person. Dulce is dried in the sun, ground and added to soups as a flavor enhancer. Some seaweed is fried like chips, baked with cheese, added to dough or meat dishes, or eaten just like that, even without drying.

The appearance of the potato in Ireland in the 16th century dramatically changed the way of life of the Irish people. This unpretentious tuber became the basis for the nutrition of peasants and their livestock. Gradually, the Irish became so dependent on potatoes that occasional crop failures caused mass starvation. The invasion of phytophthora on potato fields in 1845-1849 led to the Great Famine, which reduced the country's population by a quarter.

Over the 4 centuries of acquaintance with potatoes, the Irish have come up with many interesting ways to cook it. For example, Boxty, which translates as "poor man's bread." Boxty is a half-bread, half-fritter made from grated potatoes and mashed potatoes, flour, butter and soda. This dish can be fried, baked or boiled. In any of the options, it has a soft, delicate texture.

Simple mashed potatoes are too boring for a real Irish hostess, so she will be happy to cook champ (champ) - soft, airy mashed potatoes whipped with milk, butter and green onions, or colcannon (colcannon) - mashed potatoes with cabbage. Potatoes cooked according to various recipes are the most common side dish in modern Ireland. Often the lunch of office workers consists of boiled, fried, baked potatoes and mashed potatoes - all in one plate. When you need a quick bite, buy fish and chips - fried fish and french fries. By the way, this dish, which has gained fame as a typical British fast food, was born in Dublin, in a small restaurant of Italian immigrants, who fried fish and potatoes so deliciously and packed them so conveniently that it was impossible to buy fish or potatoes separately - just all together, Fish and Chips.

On the table of rich Irishmen, Coddle was often present - stewed potatoes with vegetables, bacon and sausage. In memory of the old pre-potato times, barley was added to this dish. Simple, hearty and cheap, coddle is still a favorite winter meal in many Irish families.

The traditional Irish dish of bacon and cabbage has changed dramatically with the advent of potatoes. If earlier it was quite a healthy food, since it included only low-fat "black" bacon, cabbage, turnips, carrots and onions, then the addition of potatoes turned it into an overly heavy dish.

Without potatoes, it will not be possible to cook the most famous dish of Ireland - Irish stew (Irish stew). There is no strict recipe for this legendary dish; each family cooks it in its own way, which was the reason for the immortal joke of Jerome K. Jerome. His Irish stew was made from leftover beef, pudding, salmon, bacon, unpeeled potatoes, cabbage, peas, eggs. There might have been a water rat brought by the caring Montmorency, if not for the "lack of precedent."

Irish cuisine and its desserts are different from the traditional idea of ​​sweets. Many recipes use local sour berries: gooseberries, blueberries, currants. The role of filling for pies is often played by sour apples and rhubarb. Various butter creams, raisin buns made from chopped dough with a high content of butter are very popular. Jelly is prepared from red Irish moss (Chondrus crispus): the moss is boiled in milk with the addition of sugar and spices. It turns out almost panna cotta or blancmange. And of course, the Irish wouldn't be Irish if they didn't come up with a dark beer cupcake - Porter Cake.

Now the Emerald Isle is famous for its environmentally friendly products: cream, meat, vegetables. Where there has never been a tradition of cheese making, interesting varieties of cheese appear, which immediately receive the approval of gourmets. Irish cuisine is experiencing a real renaissance: ancient dishes are being revived, the experience of other cuisines is being adopted: Chinese, West African, Eastern European. And thanks to Guinness and St. Patrick, Irish dishes are quickly spreading around the world.

There is probably no person on earth who has not been fascinated by the "wild charm" of traditional Irish cuisine.

Black pudding - these are the names that many people hear, as the entire culinary part of the Internet talks about them. However, few resources provide combined information on traditional Irish drinks. Therefore, in fairness, we will eliminate this gap in today's article.

Tea

Tea is the national drink. Ireland rivals the UK and Turkey for the position of the countries with the highest per capita consumption of tea.

Coffee

is a drink made from hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and sour cream, which is now often replaced with cream. The drink was allegedly created at Western Ireland's Shannon Airport in the 1940s, when local bartender Joseph Sheridan began offering coffee to stiff guests arriving from the United States waiting at the airport for a connecting flight to their final destination in Ireland. The presence of sugar in the drink is very important, because it, without mixing, keeps the sour cream on top, and therefore coffee is usually drunk through a layer of sour cream.

Currently, Irish coffee can be prepared both manually and with modern coffee machines. Which way is better? To each his own. But, according to the majority, a classic is a classic!

Red lemonade is a popular soft drink. Irish people who have emigrated from the island often mention it as one of the things they miss so much abroad. It is produced in several varieties, usually with a lemon flavor. Also often mixed with alcohol (rye whisky).

Irish beer

Beer is the national symbol of Ireland and an integral part of Irish society. An Irish beer classic is Guinness, a bitter dark beer.

Poteen

Poitin (Potcheen) is an Irish distilled drink made from malted barley or potatoes, produced illegally at home for centuries. The distillate had a high percentage of alcohol, ranging from 60 to 95%, and its production was officially banned until 1997. To this day, it is a drink that has one of the highest percentages of alcohol in the world. Poitin is traditionally produced in remote rural areas.

Liquor

- Irish liqueur based primarily on Irish whiskey and cream. It was first made in the 70s with the idea of ​​combining two traditional Irish products - whiskey and milk. Most of the alcohol that is present in the drink (and has a 17% share) is formed by the fermentation of whey. Baileys are drunk neat or with ice, added to cocktails or coffee. It is comparable to another Irish liqueur - Carolans, additionally flavored with honey and caramel.

Irish whiskey

One of the most famous Irish products and exports. The word "" comes from the Gaelic word "uisce beatha", which means "water of life".

While there are about 90 distilleries in Scotland, in Ireland many are merged into larger companies, so there are currently only four in existence. The most famous brands of Irish whiskey are Jameson and Bushmills. Another Irish brand, Tullamore Dew, is currently owned by a Scottish company. Bushmills boasts the title of the oldest existing licensed distillery in the world (he received it from King James I in 1608).