Boza

Boza, also bosa is a popular fermented beverage in Kazakhstan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, parts of Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine. It is a malt drink made from maize (corn) and wheat in Albania, fermented wheat in Turkey and wheat or millet in Bulgaria and Romania. Although the original recipe is done with millet, boza can be made from other cereals as well, and it is equally tasty and healthy. Most often it is made from bulgur, which is more accessible, and easier to process. In most of the Eastern European countries, the drink it is called boza, after the Turkish name, where it originates apparently, or braga in Romania. There is also a similar recipe made from bread, called Kvass, and that recipe was firstly brewed by Russians. It has a thick consistency and a low alcohol content (usually around 1%), and a slightly acidic sweet flavor.

Health Benefits and uses of Boza are

• Typically, in Turkey, the drink is mostly drank during winter because its warming effect, and helps our body to fight viruses during the cold season. However, there is nothing better to drink during a hot summer, then a cold boza.
• Contains a lot of probiotics, vitamins A, B, and E, in a highly bioavailable form, and it caries all the health benefits of a probiotic drink. Containing a lot of lactic acid bacteria, is a great source of probiotics.
• There is a myth in the Balkan countries, that drinking boza regularly makes women grow bigger breasts. Although, there is no scientific support to this claim, women are convinced that this works.