Georgia is famous not only for producing good wine, but also for delicious lemonade. It is made on the basis of pure mineral water from local mountain sources. The composition of Georgian lemonade includes natural syrups from berries and fruits, tinctures of herbs. During the production process, they saturate the carbonated drink with vitamins. In an open bottle, Georgian lemonades retain their quality and original taste for a long time.
History of the appearance of lemonade in Georgia
The famous Georgian drink was opened by a student of the Polish pharmacist Mitrofan Lagidze. It happened in the distant 19th century. The young man helped the pharmacist in the manufacture of soft drinks and decided to try to make a syrup based on berries and fruits on his own. He didn’t get it right away, but by trial and error Mitrofan Lagidze invented not one Georgian lemonade recipe, but several at once. Later, these recipes will be used in the manufacture of the famous drink.
In the 19th century, lemonade drinks began to be called "Lagidze Waters". In tsarist Russia, they were delivered to the court of the emperor, and in Soviet times they became a favorite drink of the party elite and ordinary people.
Lemonade "Natakhtari"
The leader among soft drink producers in Georgia is Natakhtari. The plant of the same name is located in the Mukhran Valley. In the manufacture of Georgian Natakhtari lemonade, medicinal water from a local mountain source is used. Valuable minerals are retained in the soft drink even after processing.
The plant in the Mukhran Valley produces the following assortment of flavors: grape, tarragon, pear, lemon, orange, tarragon, feijoa, peach, cream and chocolate, lemon, lemon and mint, apple, raspberry, white grape, saperavi and cream.
The most popular is the Georgian Saperavi lemonade. Its base is natural red grape syrup. The drink has an indescribable taste and aroma. A little astringent lightness and many-sided notes make Saperavi look like the famous Georgian wine with the same name.
No less tasty and popular is the lemonade "Tarhun" (Natakhtari). Tarragon gives originality to this carbonated drink. It is a healthy spicy herb with healing properties. Georgian Natakhtari soft drinks are an integral part of any feast. The plant is constantly improving technology and increasing production volumes. Georgia supplies Natakhtari lemonade to Russia, the USA and European countries.
Lemonade "Kazbegi"
In the Georgian city of Rustavi, the Kazbegi factory is located, which until 2001 specialized exclusively in brewing. Now the production includes the production of Georgian Kazbegi lemonade and the Tsivi tea drink. The volumes of production are not yet as vast as those of the above companies, and Kazbegi soda is rarely delivered to the shelves.
However, this brand of soft drink has a significant advantage: there is no sugar in its composition! As its substitute acts American stevia. This plant grows exclusively in the United States and is used as a sweetener. The taste spectrum of Kazbegi lemonades is as follows: cherry, cream, citro, lemon, orange, feijoa, tarragon, pear, isabella.
Lemonade "Lagidze"
The name of the lemonade, no doubt, is associated with the name of the very famous young pharmacist Mitrofan Lagidze, who invented the first recipes for carbonated soft drinks in Georgia. Today in Tbilisi there is a large factory "Water Lagidze", where the production of natural syrups for the manufacture of Georgian lemonade has been established. "Lagidze" is a soft drink that has excellent taste and delicate aroma, it does not contain any chemical preservatives. The popularity of lemonade went far beyond the borders of Georgia. Types of products manufactured at ZAO "Lagidze" are as follows:
- fruit and berry soft drinks with the taste of quince, cherry, feijoa, apple, isindi, pear;
- citrus lemonades with lemon, orange flavor;
- mint and tarragon lemonade;
- exclusive lemonades based on cognac or wine;
- dessert soft drinks: cream soda, coffee, chocolate, creamy, rose.
All lemonades from the company "Water Lagidze" contain a natural vitamin complex, so they are very healthy.
Zandukeli Lemonade
The brewery Castel Georgia (Tbilisi) is engaged in the production of another famous Georgian lemonade - Zandukeli. The story of the recipe for this soft drink is very romantic. In 1914, the Georgian prince Nico Zandukeli, who was then living in the capital of France, fell in love with the countess, and in the past, the Russian emigrant Anna. To win the heart of the Frenchwoman, the prince created according to a unique recipe “Drink of Love” (it took him 2 years). So there was Zandukeli lemonade, which is currently produced in nine flavors: pear, saperavi, peach, cherry, lemon, cream soda, banana-strawberry, tarragon, mango.
Zedazeni Lemonade
Another famous producer of Georgian lemonade is Zedazeni. This brand appeared in 2012. The manufacturer is located in the village of Saguramo at the foot of Zedazeni Mountain. Water for the manufacture of lemonade is extracted from wells located directly on the territory of the plant. High quality products due to its composition - it is pure mineral water and natural fruit and berry components. The assortment of flavors of Zedazeni lemonade: saperavi, lemon, pear, cream, tarragon.
Lemonade Recipe
In Georgia, in ordinary families, soft drinks were prepared before factory production appeared. This traditional recipe for Georgian lemonade is still relevant today. For its preparation, you can take any fruit: peaches, apples, pears, etc. Fruits need to be washed, cut into slices and put in a jug. Then take a little sugar and squeeze the juice of two lemons into it. In order for sugar to dissolve, it is necessary to pour a little water into it.
The resulting mixture must be added to the fruit jug. Then add tarragon, basil or mint there. All this is poured with boiled or spring water, the jug is put in the refrigerator. Everything, lemonade is ready. Within an hour you can pour it into glasses and enjoy a natural fruit drink.
Features of Georgian soft drinks
The main feature of any Georgian soft drink is that it is very tasty. They have no smack of chemistry, and even if lemonade is open for a long time, it will not turn into tasteless unpleasant water. Everyone knows what open fruit sparkling water turns into after some time. This is not the case in Georgian lemonades.
The second undoubted advantage is the rich assortment. In addition to the banal and familiar tarragon and pear lemonade, Georgian companies produce lemonades of various fruit and berry and even exotic tastes.
Georgian soft drinks are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are based on pure mountain water from local sources. The taste of natural berries and fruits and the excellent aroma of Georgian lemonades cannot be compared with anything. An interesting fact is that lemonades almost completely replaced the famous phantom and cola from Georgia. Many Georgian restaurants do not have Coke on the menu, but locally made lemonade is always present in it. Georgian soft drinks are healthy, so they can be drunk by both young children and pregnant women.
Georgian lemonades have excellent taste, excellent composition and high quality. They are prepared according to old recipes using the latest technology. Georgian lemonade is recognized as one of the best carbonated drinks in the world. It is supplied not only to Russia and the countries of the former USSR, but also to Europe and America.