Comments on: Tuica: It’s the Real Thing!

by: Wayne Kissinger

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:59:13 +0000

Where can I buy Tuica. I have been looking for it since Anthony Bourdain vistited Romania on his program No Reservations. Any leads?

by: Stefan C

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:15:24 +0000

Ah………..Tucia! I must tell a story that I still find hard to believe.
My wife and I visited Romania this past Spring. We traveled to visit family and they were our hosts for our entire stay. Everywhere we went we were offered Tuica. Everywhere!
My Cousin Serban who doesn’t drink much, had Tucia in the closet of his home and offered it to me almost before I got into his house.
As we visited various places, Tuica was always offered.
The morning we flew back to the states my other cousin’s husband came to help take us to the airport. He had in his hand a 2 liter Coke bottle full of this clear liquid with the top just screwed on. I said ‘TUICA?’ He replied, ‘no…..This is the good stuff. PALINCA!’ ‘What is Palinca?’ I asked. ‘It is the BEST of the TUCIA…….Special, for very special occations only!’ was the reply.
So into the suitcase it goes along with sausage, Clisa and other non-American Goodies. I ofcourse figure that something isn’t going to get home, so I divide things into the numerous luggage so that maybe something will get through. I don’t expect the Palinca to make it, but lets try.
On the flight over the ocean I get to thinking. This Palinca is a highly flamable (140+ Proof), clear liquid, in an unmarked, open container.
We arrive in the U.S. and go through customs and I declare nothing. Hell we had been through 3 airports, somewhere they cleared me out.

When I arive at my home I open my suitcases and find a card on top of each from the U.S. Customs / Security office that reads that “Your Luggage has been Inspected and gone through by members of the Security Agency for your safety.”
Well That’s it. They got every bag. Wiped out of everything.

As I lift my pants I see a 2 liter Coke bottle full, and in the other areas I find my sausage, clisa and other goodies.

EVERYTHING MADE IT HOME, COURTESY OF U.S. CUSTOMS!

GO FIGURE!

by: Carmen Panaitescu

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:22:04 +0000

I’m Romanian, and that pronunciation is not correct. The letter “t” is pronounced like ts as in “bits.”

by: Michael Hollar

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:08:53 +0000

I was volunteering in Bucharest in Nov. 2003 and had the pleasure of enjoying ţuică or palincă. It is the National drink of Romania.

After I drank it I said this is like moonshine in America. They keep it in 1 liter plastic bottles under the bar in small bars. After a few days, the Romanians wouldn’t drink it with me anymore, saying it was not right for a visitor to be able to out drink them in thier own National drink.

by: NTM

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:02:33 +0000

I think Sal DeTraglia is more likely referring to a kind of very strong beverage called “Palinca” and not “Tuica”.

The difference between said Palinca and Tuica stays in the alcohol percentage: while for Tuica the range is anywhere from 22 to 35 percent alcohol, I would say a good Palinca starts somewhere around 50% and can go up to 70%, depending of how many times the beverage is distilled.

I have been drinking Palinca since I was a boy, as my grand father used to drink small quantities for medicinal properties(cold relief using hot Palinca with sugar).

If you want to try the real thing you should never go for a store version of Palinca. I would recommend talking with a Romanian friend who has connection on the country side in the northern part of Romania and ask him if he can get you a home-made sample brewed by a well recognized country man. Some of them keep Palinca in wooden barrels for years and it really taste great.

by: Utopian Emperor of Balkania

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:06:04 +0000

Here in Romania, we have two large categories of tuica.

One is bottled, pretty expensive for the local drinker, sold in supermarkets and retail stores (often as a “souvenir from Romania”). The bottles are nice, some brands wrap them in wicker, others have whole fruit (plums, apples, pears) inside the bottle.

The other type of tuica is dirt cheap and lives in old coca-cola bottles. It’s sold by home distillers in the marketplace, on the roadside or god knows where.

They’re both good. And if you get your hands on ancient, mature tuica from some isolated monastery, it’s a taste of Heaven.

Cheers from Bucharest.

by: Dan H

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:51:04 +0000

I just came back from visiting my college friend in Romania. His grandfather makes excellent tuica! And I did have some that was served to me in an old plastic coca cola bottle…whats with that? It is very strong but very good moonshine. I would highly recommend anyone with Romanian friends to ask them for a shot or 3….

by: C Robert Thomson

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:20:17 +0000

I have been a Palinca/Tuica fan since 1975 (and before that a Slivovitz enthusiast). Beware the coke bottles - we returned from Romania and stayed in a Hotel for two nights near Heathrow. The bottle had leaked most of its contents and our room smelt like a distillery! Our Romanian friends have just been over for my Daughter’s wedding and brought the “real McCoy” - 12 yr old Tuica and really smooth. details S.C. Vinia S.A. Iasi B-dul Metalurgiei nr. 4 Tel 0232/233300. I haven’t tried to contact the Co. yet - indeed I will probably use my Romanian friends to do that next year when I’ll need more of the elixir - but at least that’s a starting point for all other enthusiasts

by: Amy

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:11:16 +0000

haha, this is so funny… well not funny exactly, but anyway, a lady I work with is Romanian and when I invited her to my house to let our 4 yr olds have a play date, she came bearing gifts for everyone… and she brought a plastic water bottle filled with something she said was ‘for your husband, careful, very strong.’ It was 13 year old Tuica made in a monastery nearby her home in Romania… I have never had anything like it and yes, its way strong. She drinks it with a little lemon and sugar I think she said… it doesn’t mix too well with much, better to just drink it very cold, or I do like that after dinner drink option with the sugar and peppercorns, sounds interesting Thanks for posting the info, I thought I had a water bottle of Absinthe or something!

by: Dan Shea

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:10:10 +0000

If one ever finds themselves in the western carpathian mountans after the sun has gone down, let me tell you that there is nothing in this world better than joyfull friends, a warm smokey fire, and Tuica under the stars.