Page 85 - Annual Magazine 2018

ZIVANIA | NATIONAL TREASURE

ZIVANIA

CYPRUS’ OLDEST BRANDY

Zivania is a much-loved local brandy made in Cyprus, and favoured
Τ
for its characteristic taste and light aroma of raisins. High in alcohol,
this colourless beverage is a particularly strong drink,
but deliciously pleasant on the palate.

Story by Eleni Hoplaros

HOW ZIVANIA IS ENJOYED
There are a myriad of ways to consume Zivania, be this on its own,
THE HISTORY or as the perfect accompaniment to a selection of mouth-watering
The history of Zivania is one that dates back to the 14th century, traditional Cypriot appetisers such as lountza (smoked loin), loukaniko
at a time when Cyprus was under Venetian rule. Although (smoked sausage) and chiromeri (smoked ham).
there isn’t much by way of recorded history through the years,
evidence of its production through British and Ottoman rule is OTHER USES
referenced by writers of that period, in particular British writer Aside from being enjoyed as a drink, there are a multitude of other
Samuel Baker, in his book “Cyprus, as I Saw it in 1879”. uses for Zivania. Treating toothache or wounds, massaging aching
muscles, a cold remedy, or simply to warm up in the iciness of winter,
Prior to this, in the late 18th century, the Abbé Giovanni Mariti these are some of the ways that Cypriots utilise Zivania.
also makes mention of a drink with the name “Aqua Vitae” in
“Wines of Cyprus, by Giovanni Mariti (1769)”. Mariti seemingly
describes this alcoholic beverage in a way that perfectly THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ORIGIN FROM THE VILLAGE OF PAPHOS
resembles what we know as Zivania today. Some say, that the first references to the drink can be found in
Homer’s texts, specifically Homer’s Odyssey. When Odysseus passed
THE PRODUCTION PROCESS through the island of the Laestrygonians, its giant inhabitants, under
Frequently referred to as the national drink of Cyprus, Zivania the influence of Zivania, destroyed his ship.
is still produced in much the same way it was 600 years ago.
This authentically Cypriot brandy is made from pomace - a The ancient Greek text states in particular:
combination of grape residue (including pulp, stems and seeds) ” […οἱ δὲ ἦλθον υπο τὴν ζίβανον καὶ βάλλοντες πέτροις τὰ μὲν σκάφη
and local dry wines, in particular those produced from the κατέαξαν, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἐβίβρωσκον” *
indigenous Xynisteri and Mavro grapes which grow on the
southern slopes of the Troodos Mountain range. *they came, and they were under the influence of zivania and then
started throwing rocks and destroyed their ships and then started
ALSO... This pomace-wine blend is then distilled in a distillation eating them”.
Taste the local traditionally distilled zivania at apparatus called the ‘kazani’. Various qualities of Zivania are
Ekfraseis Vassiliades Winery in Chandria Village. produced, depending on the pre-distillation mixture. This mixture In later references, we encounter Zivania in excavations which took
VISIT… is comprised of wine only; a mixture of wine and pomace; or a place outside the village of Panagia in Paphos, dating between the 5th
Zivania museum - Vasa Village (tel: 25942634) combination of pomace with water and weak Zivania (otherwise and 6th Centuries AD. It is worth mentioning that ancient civilizations
known as porakos).
used grapes that grew only on limestone rocks.
Wine Museum - Erimi Village (tel: 25873808)
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