[Photo from liveriga.com]

One of the spring traditions in Latvia is tapping of birch tree juice. A small hole is made in the tree, through which the juice flows – water filtered by the wood giving it a slightly sweet, but fresh and refreshing taste. In April you can get fresh juice and it is recommended to everyone. Mineral substances contained in the juice stimulate body renewal and facilitate extraction of various residual toxins.

Birch tree juice can be fermented. A twig of juniper, some raisins and lemon are added to the juice. During fermentation process the juice gets slightly cloudy shade, but also strong flavour and aroma – juniper adds a little bitterness, raisins – sweetness, but lemon – sourness. Cool fermented birch tree juice is very refreshing beverage.

Birch Tree Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine can be made during fermentation of the birch tree juice. It can definitely be named one of the most unique beverages of Latvia.

The sparkling wine has sunny, clear and delicate shade, but flavour has retained the pleasant but unintrusive sweetness characteristic to the birch tree juice. Sparkling wine is filled in champagne bottles and served cooled at about 7-12 degrees. Bubbles of this beverage fizz in a glass as bubbles of a high-quality champagne.

Birch tree sparkling wine – a light and pleasant beverage on special occasions and for those who seek for new, untasted flavours.

Birch Tree Wine

Wine can also be produced from the birch tree juice – a unique product with incredible flavour. At the moment there are two types of wine – Amber wine and White wine.

Amber wine is made by vaporizing the birch tree juice, adding good wine ferment and fermenting in a cool cellar. The wine gets the shade of amber and fine accent characteristic to the birch tree juice. To taste it is slightly sour, semi-dry 11% alcohol.

The White wine also is made according to wine-making technology. Wine ferment is added but it is not pasteurised. The wine is soft. To taste it can be from semi-dry to semi-sweet – it depends on the barrel. The wine is 8% alcohol.

Birch Tree Juice Syrup

Syrup can be made from the birch tree juice as well. The juice with biologically produced sugar is slowly steamed until from a light, colourless product syrup of very dark colour is obtained. It has the soft, pleasant sweetness of the birch tree juice, but it will be a strong supplement to meals. Chefs in Latvia use syrup to emphasize flavours of various dishes. It is great with salad adding a little freshness and sweetness of the birch tree juice. The unique birch tree syrup will be a pleasant surprise with your meal, as well as will give a new, untested flavour.

Birch tree sparkling wine, wine and syrup can be purchased at:

Birch Tree Juice Cellar, Ikšķile. You can receive information, taste and purchase all products at the production unit. Address: “Zaķu Muiža”, Daugavmala, Ikšķile. Telephone: +371 29 29 74 69.

Supermarket “Rimi” (TC SPICE) department “Klēts”.

Café “Rāmkalni” in Berģi (premises of supermarket DEPO), Sigulda motorway 6.

Store “Berģu Bode”, when exiting Riga on the right side, after the Open Air museum, Brīvības gatve 452.

Store “Abra”, Latvian product store opposite the National Museum of Art, Valdemāra iela 17a.

Stores “Valmiermuižas alus tirgotava”, in Riga, A. Briāna iela 9a (Valdemāra Pasāža – next to club “Piens”) and at “Valmiermuižas alus darītava”, Valmiermuiža, Dzirnavu iela 2.

Store “dbdaba”, in Jelgava, Raiņa iela 17.

Kalnciema Street Fairs held every second week, at Kalnciema iela 35 (crossing with Melnsila iela)

Airport RIGA, souvenir store, departure sector C.

Raw food restaurant “Raw Garden”, in Riga, Skolas iela 12.

Airport RIGA, souvenir and delicacy store (main departure terminal, sector F).

Store “Dabas Dobe”, in Riga, Miera iela 15.