Spritzer facts for kids
A spritzer is a cool, fizzy drink. It's usually made by mixing white wine with carbonated water or sparkling water. Sometimes, a sweet syrup that has been fermented can be used instead of wine. This makes the drink sweet but without a strong flavor.
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Where Spritzers Come From
The word spritzer comes from Austria. This drink is very popular there. It's related to the German word spritzen, which means 'to squirt' or 'to spray'. This makes sense because of the fizzy water used in the drink!
In some parts of Germany, like Hesse, people also use the word Gespritzter. This can mean a sweet spritzer made with fizzy lemonade. In most of Germany, a spritzer is called a "Schorle".
Spritzers with Alcohol
Many spritzers contain alcohol, usually from wine. You can often find them already mixed in cans.
In Hesse, a "gespritzt" drink often mixes soda water or lemonade with Apfelwein. This is an alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice, similar to a dry cider.
Hungarian Fröccs
In Hungary, spritzers are called 'fröccs' and are very popular. There are many different types of fröccs. They are named based on how much wine and sparkling water they have. Sometimes, other liquids are added too.
Here are a few examples:
- Kisfröccs or Fütty ('short spritzer' or whistle): Made with 1 part wine and 1 part sparkling water.
- Nagyfröccs ('full spritzer'): Made with 2 parts wine and 1 part sparkling water.
- Hosszúlépés ('long step'): Made with 1 part wine and 2 parts sparkling water.
- Macifröccs ('teddy bear spritzer'): Made with red wine, soda, and raspberry syrup.
Spritzers Around Europe
Other countries also have their own versions of spritzers:
- In Romania, they have șpriț de vară (or "summer spritzer"). This is 1 part white wine to 2 parts sparkling water.
- In Slovenia, it's called Brizganec or ‘’Špricar’’. It's made with wine and the popular mineral water Radenska.
- In Serbia, "špricer" is white wine or rosé mixed with sparkling water.
- In Croatia, a popular drink called gemišt mixes white wine and sparkling water.
- In north-eastern Italy, especially around Venice, a spritz is a light cocktail. It mixes sparkling white wine (like Prosecco), sparkling water, and a colorful alcohol like Aperol or Campari.
Spritzers Without Alcohol
In the United States, some non-alcoholic fizzy juices are sold as spritzers.
In Germany, this type of drink is known as Saftschorle or Fruchtschorle. These are made with juice and carbonated mineral water. For example, Apfelschorle (apple juice spritzer) is one of the most popular soft drinks in Germany.
In Austria, Apfelschorle is called Apfelsaft g'spritzt. You can combine ... g'spritzt with almost any juice. For example, Orangensaft g'spritzt means orange juice mixed with sparkling water.
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