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Bukha drink is a distillate from fig fruits with a strength of 36-40%. Appeared in Tunisia, where it is mainly produced. The name “Boukha” is translated from the Hebrew-Tunisian dialect of Arabic as “alcoholic fumes”. Bukha is served in its pure form and as part of cocktails. The distillate can be diluted with fruit juice, cola, or added to desserts.
Historical information
The drink was invented in 1880 by Abraham Bokobs, a Tunisian of Jewish origin, who later opened a production of the same name in Tunisia. His son, Jacques Bokobs, made a special trip to Normandy to hone his distillation technique. In 1897, a young winemaker brought bukha to an international exhibition in Brussels, where, according to legend, King Leopold II of Belgium tasted it and highly appreciated it. Strong liquor made from fig fruits was awarded a silver medal and was enjoyed by many guests of the exhibition.
Since then, the history of buhi as the national alcohol of Tunisia began. When the grandchildren of the founder already owned the production, an anti-Semitic movement began in the country, forcing the Bokobs family to emigrate to France, where in 1966 the production of booze began. At the same time, the Tunisian winery did not close and continued to produce a drink for the domestic market. Now the sixth generation of Bokobs owns French production, and the Tunisian plant belongs to the state.
It is possible that they knew how to make fig vodka long before the establishment of official production, but there is no documentary evidence of this.
Production technology
Raw materials for booze are collected mainly in Tunisia and Turkey. First, the pulp of the fig is fermented, then sent for a single distillation, then aging in barrels is possible. The result is a natural and kosher product that can be drunk at any time and in any conditions – even on Passover, as it does not contain cereals.
Types of booze
Depending on the country of origin and the aging time in barrels, there are five types of drink:
- Boukha Bokobsa;
- Boukha the Oasis;
- Boukha Bokobsa Cuvee Prestige;
- Boukha Gold;
- Boukha Sun.
How to drink booze
Thanks to the patented bottle shape, fig vodka cannot be confused with other drinks. Clear bukha is drunk from small shots of chilled or room temperature, as well as from whiskey glasses with ice. Aged – use at room temperature. Snack a drink with savory local dishes. Tunisians say that the balance of freshness and high strength makes bukha a real “drink of the sun”.
Fig vodka is allowed to drink during the Jewish holiday of Purim, which marks the anniversary of the salvation of Persian Jews from extermination. This day is too significant to get by with simple wine, besides, booze was originally created by a Jew.
Cocktails with booze
Fig Grogger. A variation of the Cobbler fruit cocktail. Mash a quartered lemon in a shaker, add 2 parts fig syrup, 2 drops lemon bitter and 4 parts buha. Stir, pour into old-fashioned glasses filled with ice cubes, garnish with dried figs or lemon zest. If desired, you can dip the rim of the glass in cinnamon and cane sugar.
Bouka. Add grenadine, cardamom, fresh mint leaves to taste, pour into an old-fashioned glass and turn on the song “A Night in Tunisia”.
