Oghi (drink) facts for kids
Oghi (pronounced like oh-ghee) is a special Armenian drink made by distilling fruits or berries. It's a bit like a strong fruit brandy! In Armenia, many families make their own oghi at home using fruits from their gardens.
Oghi is a very important part of Armenian culture. When guests visit, it's often offered as a warm welcome drink. People also enjoy it during meals. While some might call it "Armenian vodka," it's actually quite different because it's made from fruits, not grains or potatoes like traditional vodka.
A popular type of oghi, made from mulberries, is sold commercially under the name Artsakh. It comes from the Republic of Artsakh.
Different Kinds of Oghi
Oghi can be made from many different fruits, giving each type a unique taste! Here are some common varieties:
- Tuti oghi – This is made from mulberries. The Artsakh brand is a well-known mulberry oghi.
- Honi oghi – Made from hon, which is a small red berry also known as a cornelian cherry.
- Tsirani oghi – This delicious oghi is made from apricots.
- Tandzi oghi – Made from pears.
- Khaghoghi oghi – This type uses grapes.
- Salori oghi – Made from plums.
- Moshi oghi – This one comes from blackberries.
- Tzi oghi – Made from figs.
- Khundzori oghi – This oghi is made from apples.
Oghi Around the World
Armenians living in other countries, sometimes called the Armenian Diaspora, might use the word oghi to mean a different kind of drink. For them, oghi often refers to a clear alcoholic drink flavored with anise (which tastes a bit like black licorice). This anise-flavored drink is known as arak in the Middle East, rakı in Turkey, or ouzo in Greece.
However, in Armenia itself, you won't usually find anise-flavored oghi. Historically, in parts of Western Armenia, oghi was sometimes made from grape leftovers or mulberries and could be flavored with things like anise, mastic (a plant resin), or even cardamom and orange peel.
