KACHEN #28 (Autumn 2021) English Edition

FEATURE
A DUBIOUS DRINK?
This is where we get to the next question: How do you
even drink Ouzo? Now, it’s completely understandable
that the real Greeks don’t drink it by the bucket load while
gorging on Mezedes. Like the French, they dilute their
anis drink with water as they please. Fans of Ouzo who
prefer to take it as a digestif enjoy it pure, while many like
it on ice for an aperitif. However, the clear drop turns a
milky colour when in contact with water or ice: it’s called
the “Louche Effect.” By the way, the French name has
nothing to do with the Luxembourgish “louchen” (ladle)
but simply designates a cloudy drink. The rule of thumb
is as follows: the cloudier, the higher the anis content and
the better the Ouzo.
ON TURKS AND BAD DANCERS
As is so often the case with so-called national drinks,
the origins of Ouzo are also a somewhat tricky case.
When and where the drink was invented is not known.
However, what is almost certain is the fact that the
drop already existed in the 15 th century and was, at
that time, brewed in the Ottoman Empire. While the
Greeks belonged to that empire for quite a while, it was
the people later called the Turks who had the dominion.
Further, the name “Ouzo” has its origins in the Turkish
language not the Greek, with the word “üzüm” meaning
a bunch of grapes. And Ouzo is made from grapes,
or rather, from grape marc. So, is the most famous of
the Greeks really a Turk? But what does it matter: The
legendary Zorba the Greek actor Anthony Quinn was
also not a Greek but a Mexican, and the most famous of
all Greek folkdances, the Sirtaki, does not really exist
because it was created solely for the film. Apparently,
Anthony Quinn was simply unable to perform the traditional
Greek dances so that one had to come up with
alternative steps on set! Whether the actor was just a
really bad dancer or possibly had had a glass Ouzo too
many in between takes is unfortunately not passed on.
It’s quite possible; after all, the drop has a whopping 40 %.
On that note: Yamas!
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KACHEN No.28 | AUTUMN 21