**National Drinks by Region:**
**Americas:**
– **Brazil:** Caipirinha
– **Canada:** Caesar cocktail
– **United States:** Coffee, Coca-Cola, Bourbon
– **Mexico:** Tequila, Aguas frescas
– **Chile:** Pisco sour
– **Cuba:** Mojito, Cuba Libre
– **Jamaica:** Rum, Blue Mountain Coffee
**Europe:**
– **France, Italy:** Red wine
– **Belgium:** Known for 1,400 kinds of beer
– **Bosnia and Herzegovina:** Rakija, coffee
– **Bulgaria:** Rakia national beverage from fruits
– **Croatia:** Rakija, Pelinkovac, Cedevita
– **Spain, Italy, Greece:** Wine belt
**Asia:**
– **Taiwan:** Boba tea
– **Thailand:** Thai iced tea
– **India:** Mango lassi, Chai
– **Russia:** Vodka
– **Singapore:** Singapore Sling
– **Japan:** Green Tea, Sake
**Africa:**
– **South Africa:** Rooibos tea
– **Ethiopia:** Coffee
– **Morocco:** Mint tea
– **Egypt:** Hibiscus tea
– **Nigeria:** Palm wine
– **Algeria:** Coffee, Tea
**Oceania:**
– **Australia:** Dominant coffee culture, Lemon, lime, and bitters (LLB)
– **Fiji and Pacific Islands:** Kava
– **US Territories:** Mai tai, Calamansi Basil Lemonade
– **Islands in the Pacific:** Tumunu, Easter Island Cocktail, Kava
**Iconic National Drinks:**
**Traditional Drinks:**
– **Moroccan Mint Tea:** Brewed with green tea leaves, fresh mint, sugar
– **Chinese Daqu Liquor:** Made from grains like sorghum, barley, wheat
– **Korean Soju:** Made from rice, barley, wheat, or sweet potatoes
– **Taiwanese Bubble Tea:** Combination of tea, milk, sugar, tapioca pearls
– **Singaporean Milo Dinosaur:** Variation of Milo drink with added chocolate powder
**Country-Specific National Drinks:**
– **Turkish National Drinks:** Raki, Ayran
– **Kyrgyzstan’s National Drink:** Fermented beverage
– **Kiribati’s National Drink:** Toddy
– **North Korea:** Pyongyang Soju
– **South Korea:** Soju
**Cultural Significance of National Drinks:**
**Symbolism and Identity:**
– **Lions Milk:** Term used for anise-based drinks like raki
– **Symbolic Meanings:** Reflect cultural identity
– **Cultural Heritage:** Integral part of culinary culture
– **Traditions:** Deeply rooted in country’s history
– **Culinary Experiences:** Enhance travel experiences
**General Information:**
– **National Identity:** Reflected in national drinks
– **Symbolism:** Beyond being beverages
– **Alcoholic vs. Non-Alcoholic:** Varying types
– **Historical and Traditional:** Ingrained in history
– **Insight into Culture:** Ingredients and flavors
**National Drinks in Various Countries:**
**Asia – East:**
– **China:** Tea
– **Hong Kong:** Milk tea
– **Mongolia:** Airag fermented dairy product
– **Ryukyu Islands:** Awamori
– **Timor-Leste:** Cachaca
**South Asia:**
– **Bangladesh:** Tea
– **Bhutan:** Ara
– **India:** Tea, Lassi
– **Maldives:** Sai and Raa
– **Nepal:** Raksi
**Middle East:**
– **Turkey:** Highest tea consumption
– **Maldives:** Raa
– **Nepal:** Raksi
– **India:** Masala chai, Kaapi
– **Bhutan:** Ara
**Southeast Asia:**
– **Singapore Sling:** Gin-based cocktail
– **Thai Iced Tea:** Popular globally
– **Brunei:** Air Batu Campur (ABC)
– **Cambodia:** Sombai
– **Indonesia:** Es teler
**North America:**
– **Canada:** Caesar cocktail
– **Mexico:** Tequila, Mezcal
– **United States:** Bourbon, Craft beer
A national drink is a distinct beverage that is strongly associated with a particular country, and can be part of their national identity and self-image. National drinks fall into two categories: alcoholic and non-alcoholic. An alcoholic national drink is sometimes a liquor drunk straight/neat (e.g., vodka in Russia), but is most often a mixed drink (e.g., caipirinhas in Brazil and Singapore Slings in Singapore), beer, or wine. Non-alcoholic national drinks include Coca-Cola in the US, boba tea in Taiwan, Thai iced tea in Thailand, and many others.
A beverage can be considered a national drink for a variety of reasons:
- It is a common drink, made from a selection of locally available foodstuffs that can be prepared in a distinctive way, such as mango lassi that uses dahi, a traditional yogurt or fermented milk product originating from the Indian subcontinent.
- It contains a particular 'exotic' ingredient that is produced locally.
- It is served as a festive culinary tradition that forms part of a cultural heritage.
- It has been promoted as a national drink by the country itself.
In some cases, it may be impossible to settle on a national drink for a particular country. In the realm of food at least, it may be impossible to choose a single national dish, even unofficially, for countries such as Mexico, China, or India because of their diverse ethnic populations and cultures. At the other end of the spectrum, and now referring to drinks, sometimes different countries see the same beverage as their national drink (e.g., pisco sour in Peru and Chile).
The national drinks below are categorized within geo-political regions modified from the United Nations' five "regional groups". This list usually does not include moonshines or alcoholic beverages produced illicitly.