Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

When did you last see a bottle of Unicum for sale outside Hungary? We try out a few drinks that are inexorably associated with a particular region: from Kvint to kvass, from Irn-Bru to Almdudler.

article summary —

Say what you eat, and we'll tell you who you are. That was the simple punchline in an article we published last November in hidden europe 17. It explored the relationship between national identity in Europe and the dishes that are served up on our dinner tables. But what of drinks? Are not beverages equally revealing?

In the last issue of the magazine, we had an en passant referenc to Vov, a peculiarly Italian liqueur. It was in connection with Umberto Nobile’s journey to the North Pole in 1928. Only an Italian could possibly have suggested, upon having arrived at the North Pole, that the most obvious thing to do was to open a bottle of Vov.


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About the authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

This article was published in hidden europe 21.