Egypt is not accidentally called the modern Russian health resort. The country annually receives tens of thousands of tourists, offering not only great opportunities for a beach holiday, fascinating diving, an informative excursion program, but also an introduction to thousands of years of tradition in the field of cooking and winemaking. Egyptian drinks - alcoholic or non-alcoholic - a constant attribute of any daily and festive meal.

Egyptian Alcohol

For countries with Muslim religious traditions, there are some limitations in the circulation of alcoholic beverages. Egypt is no exception, and therefore you should avoid drinking alcohol in the streets and in public places. It is allowed to bring into the country no more than a liter of strong alcohol per guest, and export is not regulated by the customs rules of Egypt. However, Egyptian alcohol is not the most popular souvenir for bored friends and colleagues, unless there are true collectors and connoisseurs among them. For them, you can buy red wine "Pharaoh" or white - "Nefertiti", which is highly appreciated by sommeliers. The price of the issue does not exceed 8 euros (according to the data at the end of 2013).

National drink of Egypt

In addition to the pyramids and papyri in the country of the pharaohs, there is another attraction, which can be found anywhere, starting with a cafe at the airport. The main national drink of Egypt, no doubt, is karkade tea made from hibiscus flowers. Called otherwise Sudan rose, this plant gives the Egyptians the main drink, which saves from thirst in the heat, gives strength, contains a whole bunch of vitamins and beneficial healing properties and is revered by many generations of descendants of the pharaohs. The main medicinal effects of carcade are well known to every amateur:

• Tea strengthens blood vessels, making their wall less permeable.
• Karkade contains antioxidants and slows the aging process.
• A decoction of Sudanese rose helps to reduce the temperature and has an antispasmodic effect.
• A large amount of vitamin C in the petals of hibiscus allows you to use the drink as a prophylactic and immunomodulatory agent.

The Egyptians offer guests two options carcade - hot and cold, and the amount of sugar can vary depending on the preferences of the guest.

Alcoholic beverages of Egypt

The best alcoholic drinks of Egypt can be enjoyed even at a buffet at each hotel, and going out to the city and having dinner at one of the restaurants in any resort in the country will be an exciting and memorable event for any traveler.

About the whole world, Egypt is not much different in terms of beverages used in Egyptian cuisine. This is the same coffee, tea, fruit drinks, and even in tourist places - alcoholic and low alcohol drinks, with almost no restrictions.

But Egypt would not have been Egypt if it had not been for a truly Egyptian drink - hibiscus tea made from Sudanese rose flowers. Egyptians call this tea the drink of the pharaohs, because it has miraculous properties. A sweet and sour drink in a chilled form helps to lower blood pressure, and in the hot, on the contrary, it can increase it. He tones well and conceals thirst, and his purple color causes genuine admiration. It is quite probable that the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt drank the hibiscus (hibiscus), and all the conquests to the south in Sudan were connected with the flower of this wonderful rose.
This flower produces a good natural dye.

Carcade in Arab countries has been widely used in medicine and is considered a "cure for all diseases."
Substances that provide the plant with a red color - anthocyanins, have P-vitamin activity, they strengthen the walls of blood vessels, regulate their permeability. It is erroneously believed that hot tea increases blood pressure, and lowers it in cold, but this is not so, because tea gets into the stomach with one temperature - body temperature. Hibiscus tea contains antioxidants and has antispasmodic, diuretic, antipyretic properties. The drink contains many vitamins and organic acids, in particular, contains citric acid, which help to improve the overall condition of the body.

Drink increases the acidity of gastric juice, therefore, is contraindicated in gastritis with high acidity and peptic ulcer disease.

In addition to the magic karkade tea in Egypt, Bedouin herbal tea is offered for tourists - tea from the local lemongrass. Among the Egyptians is also popular tea with mint (shay bi l nana). Mint, as a rule, is put in already brewed black tea with one or two sprigs.

Egyptian coffee is also considered traditional in Egypt. The Egyptians love coffee with cardamom, which gives the drink a special taste and aroma. Bedouin coffee in Egypt is not as common as in neighboring countries - Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan.

As for alcoholic beverages, in Egypt there are restrictions on the number of companies that have the right to produce them. There are only three such companies. In Egypt, produce strong alcoholic beverages - vodka, rum, whiskey (all very similar to taste); wine - red and white (sour-tart) and several types of beer: Heiniken, Stella, Saqqara, Luxor and several brands of fortified beer.

Inside Egypt itself, you can buy local drinks without restrictions (if you find a store), and the sale of imported alcohol is severely limited. Naturally, the Egyptians want to earn, and sell someone else's alcohol is unprofitable. With import alcohol, we begin.

Imported alcohol in Egypt

It is no secret that many tourists do not like Egyptian alcoholic beverages, and this is not surprising. The Arabs themselves do not drink alcohol for religious reasons, and it is clear that they do not understand the quality of alcoholic beverages. Hence the poor result.

There are four main ways to drink imported alcohol. First way  - is to buy a tour to the hotel using the UAI system (“Ultra All Inclusive”), that is, where foreign drinks are included in the price.

But here you need to be careful, because UAI does not always mean imported alcohol. There are cases when hotels mean by that completely different. For example, waiter service at the bar or meals after midnight. In any case, you need to check with the hotel what exactly they mean by UAI.

Second way  - This is to go to a regular hotel and buy imported alcohol there in the bar. This is the most expensive way, a bottle of whiskey can cost from 200 (about 30 dollars) to infinity.

Third way  The most reliable and practical - bring with you. If you have any preferences in alcoholic beverages, bring the ones you love from home. Unfortunately, only 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages can be brought to Egypt, and wine is equal to them. Beer is more complicated, since official information on the website of the Egyptian customs service says nothing about beer at all.

Keep in mind that alcohol can only be brought by an adult (18 years old), so it’s impossible to write down extra liters for children.

Many tourists carry more, because there is no serious control at the airports. They just put more, and no one catches them.

The most cunning pass in the luggage two bags, each with one liter of alcoholic beverages. At the Russian airport, no one will say anything, but in Egyptian all the bags are intermingled, and no one will look to whom the suitcase belongs to.

Fourth way  - buy in the Duty Free shop. Most often, they are located at airports, but not necessarily. At the resort, there is such a shop at the Savoy Hotel in Naama Bay and at the airport. At the resort, besides the airport, Duty Free can be found at the SeaGull Hotel and on Village Road.

  If you decide, then you just need to know that as a predominantly Muslim country, Egypt values ​​little alcohol. They mainly drink tea, coffee, fruit juices and well-known carbonated drinks. It may change your attitude to tea and it will become for you the same favorite drink as for the Egyptians. The invitation to drink tea (shurub shai?) For Egypt is no less important part of life than for the UK, although the drink is served in a completely different way. Many men combine tea with hookah. When making tea (shai), the national drink of Egypt, the leaves are usually boiled, and it is drunk black and with sugar to taste - although an increasing number of cafes are serving tea bags and milk. Tea with milk is called shai bi-laban, tea bag is shai libton, or ask for leaf tea (shai kushari). In hot weather, tea with mint is very refreshing (shai bi-pa`apa).

Coffee in hotels of Egypt

Coffee (`ahwa) is traditionally (laquo; Turkish raquo) served in tiny cups or cups and already with sugar as desired by the client: saada (without sugar), ariha (slightly sweetened), mazboot (medium sweetness) or ziyaada (sweet, like syrup ). and most other middle-class establishments provide a different choice of coffee, but cinnamon (`ahwa makhaweka) coffee is very popular, and instant coffee, if desired with milk (` ahwa bi-laban), can also be found there. and other prestigious places put espresso coffee makers. Drinks are served in traditional coffee houses or tea (`ahwa), which are exclusively male territory. Foreign women will not be expelled, but an awkward feeling will arise, especially if there is no accompanying man. To drink tea or coffee in a more relaxed atmosphere, try middle-class institutions (in big cities), often at pastry shops, there are Egyptian women there.

Features of the national cuisine of Egypt - in drinks

  famous for its amazing variety and the third drink that is in demand in this country is the original karkade, a dark red mixture of hibiscus flowers. In Luxor and Aswan, it is especially popular and very refreshing - both hot and cold. In other places, instead of this hibiscus sometimes take dehydrated extract, it is not so tasty. Try other mixtures, such as helba (bright yellow mixture of Shambhala), yansoon (anise) or irfa (cinnamon). On cold winter evenings, sahleb is very good, a thick, juicy drink of milk, condensed with the help of crushed orchid root, sprinkled with cinnamon and nuts on top. In hot weather, the Egyptians pull rayeb (yogurt), to the characteristic taste of which you need to get used to. On all the major streets there are counters where they sell juices, they are easy to recognize by the spread of fruit.
Usually you order and pay at the cashier, and then you give a plastic token behind the counter and get a drink. Juices are squeezed from seasonal fruits burtuan (orange), mohz (banana; with milk mohz bi-laban), manga (mango), farawla (strawberry), gazar (carrot), rumaan (pomegranate), subia (coconut) and asab (sugary - sweet thick juice of light green color from crushed sugarcane). You can order and mixed juices; nus w nus (literally laquo; half raquo;) usually refers to carrot-orange juice, other combinations should be clarified. Street vendors also pour icy asiir limoon (strong sweet lemonade), bittersweet licorice water and tasty and refreshing tamarhindi (tamarind drink). Despite the many cheap fresh juices, usual carbonated drinks are sold everywhere, including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and 7-Up (it is called laquo; Seven raquo;), and in bottles and in cans.
  In Egypt, carbonated bottled drinks are usually drunk on the spot, otherwise you will have to pay for the bottle to carry it away. Bottled mineral water (tauwe adadatua) is widespread, in particular Baraka (laquo; Blessing raquo ;; owner - Nestle); The brands Siwa and Hyat (from the Siwa oasis) are slightly less common. Baraka sell in bottles of 1, 5 liters, 1 liter and 0, 5 liters. If tourists ask for water, they are meant to mean mineral water, unless it is specified that tap water is needed (tauau baladf).
  In most cities, tap water can be drunk, but it is too chlorinated for average taste; people with sensitive stomachs should not retreat from bottled water. they are very different and therefore, when buying mineral water, make sure that the packaging is intact - tourists are sometimes trying to deceive and sell plumbing - a favorite joke at cheap resorts in Dahab.

Alcoholic beverages in Egypt are not very popular.

  Alcohol in Egypt is sold in many regions, but distribution points are limited. In the oases of the Libyan Desert and in Central Egypt, the sale is strictly limited or prohibited. If there are no bars, try the hotel or the Greek restaurant; if you don’t see what visitors are drinking, then it’s not here.
If you managed to find a place with alcoholic beverages, do not forget that a dry climate causes dehydration, and abuse results in a painful hangover. Drinking in public places in Egypt is completely unacceptable. Out of respect for the Muslim majority, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed and on the first and last days of Ramadan (sometimes even the whole month).
  The most common alcoholic beverages are various brands and beers, which first appeared in the days of the pharaohs. Local beer Stella is a light lager (4% ABV) in half-liter bottles and in cans, very good, if not set too long in the sun. To check if the bottled beer is exhausted, turn the bottle upside down before opening, and see if there is foam. In most places Stella costs € 6-10, although at discos they can charge up to € 20, and even more on cruise ships. Competing with Stella is the new Sakkara brand, also lightweight lager (4%), which seems to be more popular with Europeans. There are varieties and the highest quality Stella and Sakkara laquo; for export raquo; (4, 7%), they have a slightly richer taste. Also in Egypt, Carlsberg, Lowenbrau and Meister are produced, but they are more expensive and do not cost any extras. Sakkara and Meister can be 7%, but this suicidal liquid should be avoided. The dark March beer Marzen appears briefly in the spring; Aswali dark beer is produced in Aswan. The most expensive beer - imported (€ 15-20), is sold only in bars, some hotels and restaurants. In addition, there is a non-alcoholic birrel.
  About half a dozen Egyptian wines are produced not far from Alexandria, their quality has improved significantly after French specialists began to monitor the production. The most common are Omar Khayyam (very dry red), Cru des Ptolemees (good dry white) and Rubis d`Egypte (acceptable pink). In 1999, a new series of wines called Obelisque appeared, with a very good red Rouge des Pharaohs, and pink and white deserve less attention. Wines in most restaurants go for about € 30 per bottle (on a cruise ship more for € 45). Not long ago, Chateau des Reves has been produced - a high-quality red wine with a rich taste. It is sold for € 70-100, and before drinking, it is better to let it breathe for a while.
If you want to seriously drink the locals drink Egyptian spirits, usually mixed with soda or fruit juice. They prefer brandy (jaz in jargon, literally laquo; bottle raquo;), which can be of three brands: Ahmar (the cheapest), Maa`tak (the best) and Vin (the most common). Zibiba (Egyptian vodka) is similar to Greek ouzo, but is drunk clean. Try not to buy disgusting Egyptian gin and whiskey. Their labels resemble famous western brands, but they may even contain wood alcohol and other poisons; besides, these drinks are dangerous if you drink too much.
  Imported spirits are sold in duty-free shops in the main resorts for reasonable prices (JohnnyWalker Red Label US $ 12; vodka laquo; Metropolitan raquo; US $ 10). Be wary of scammers trying to persuade you to buy something from duty-free on the black market. Today, following trends in the West, a new cocktail has appeared: laquo; alcopop raquo; vodka basis called ID. It comes in a variety of flavors and is sold in liquor stores, in some bars, and in duty-free.

Tired of searching

The population of Egypt is approaching one hundred million, millions of tourists visit the country. But there is absolutely nothing to drink, in the sense of drinking alcohol, in the sense of thumping culturally to consume alcohol in Egypt. Why is that? Is it because Egypt is a “Muslim country with strict traditions”? Bring this phrase back to the guide: in order to get rid of this illusion it is enough to visit any city in Egypt. Alcohol is in demand, we wish and love. When you find yourself in the morning on the infamous Sheraton Street, you can see a seditious picture at all: an orthodox hangover, which is by no means a tourist. So why in Egypt, a country with a seemingly ancient tradition of winemaking, there is no decent alcoholic drinks?

Search for reasons in religion is useless. First, Egypt is not made up of Muslims alone. Secondly, the severity of religious mores would manifest itself more likely in the absence of alcohol, but in no way in its abundance, only of poor quality. And alcohol of dubious quality is everywhere. Only Egyptian beer deserves some approval. Wine brand "Omar Khayam" is also not so bad. But strong drinks are all like picking up - rubbish.

This is all the more surprising for the growing place of excellent grapes, which suffer little, unlike the European, from phylloxera. Materials for the production of wine in Egypt is. There are no personnel for its production and there are no necessary market conditions. Egypt lost the tradition of winemaking and the tobacco industry along with the exodus of the Greeks. The demise of these industries brought the overthrow of the monarchy and the transformation of the Kingdom of Egypt into Arabic  Republic of Egypt. Everyone who knew something about wine, tobacco, and many other interesting things - left.

About cigarettes

Speaking of cigarettes. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Egyptian cigarettes were so famous for their quality that they made fakes for them in Europe and the USA. One of these fakes was Camel. It is styled as an Egyptian theme - a camel, a pyramid. This was done to ensure that the consumer thought that he was buying a fine Egyptian product, and not a low-quality American fake.

During the revolution, the largest wine company Al-Ahram was nationalized. All the rest were nationalized and transferred to the ownership of Al-Ahram. In 1998, within the framework of IMF reforms, the company was sold to Heineken. Heineken more or less copes with maintaining the quality of beer products, but does nothing to improve the quality of other beverages. Ultimately, Heineken is primarily a brewing company.

Therefore, local vodka, rum and whiskey in Egypt is strictly not recommended to drink. Wine is a bit more complicated. It should be noted that recently Greek specialists began to work on wine. Maybe in twenty years wine in Egypt will be of good quality. But for this it is necessary to at least deprive Heineken of the monopoly on the production of alcoholic beverages and liberalize licenses.

The underground production is doing well in the country. Counterfeits under J & B, Red Label and other brands are common. Do not drink them - you will become camels.

On the production of wine in Egypt

It is widely believed that the production of wine in Egypt is impossible, since it is too hot to ferment. It ferments, they say, wonderful, but it sours with vinegar and at best it turns out very bad. Of course, this opinion is not justified. In Egypt, they always made wines and wines made good ones; in any case, wines from Egypt were valued in imperial Rome. The heat was not particularly disturbing, since special rooms, which were not too hot, were equipped for their production.

  They knew something! Technology

As an experiment with Egyptian grapes, you can make good wine at home. All that is required is six or twenty-liter bottles and a dark room.

Where do the inhabitants of our Hurghada take alcohol?

The inhabitants of Great Peskovki extract alcohol in several elegant ways. There is never a shortage of alcohol in Hurghada, but it is expensive.

So, alcohol in Hurghada can be bought:

•   In taverns and eateries;
•   In dyuti-free, but only in the first two or three days. Previously, it was easy enough to get without a passport, only a burnt red face was needed, but after some great fine, the sellers became strict and adamant;
•   In dyuti-free, by capturing tourists hostage, with friends or other similar methods;
•   In Facebook - many residents and travelers sell wine, vodka, brandy in social networks;
•   In Desert, a █████ supply base located in █████;

The latter method is quite cheap if you buy beer. You can also buy local wine there. I would not recommend buying Egyptian whiskey and vodka.