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Post by Jaga on Mar 6, 2006 12:21:18 GMT -7
Poland and Hungary are quarrelling over the definition of vodka. For the Poles vodka is “an alcoholic beverage derived from cereals or potatoes.” Historically vodka is a colourless liquor made from grain. Traditionally it was made in Russia, the Ukraine, Poland and Scandinavia. However, the fact that potato vodka is also considered to be vodka, though potatoes were only introduced in these regions in the 18th century, indicates, according to some, that vodka can also be distilled from other products than grain or potatoes.
more:http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/882
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Post by Jaga on Mar 6, 2006 12:22:08 GMT -7
More about it:
According to András Nagy of the Hungarian guild of spirits manufacturers, “modern active filtration techniques mean there is little or no difference in quality, taste or production cost, whatever the vodka is made from. We believe it is best for the market to decide on what is and isn’t good vodka.”
The Poles, however, do not want to have vodka watered down by the Hungarians. They claim that the Hungarian grape marc or molasses spirits do not taste at all like cereal or potato vodka. Hence Brussels should prohibit the Hungarians from calling their vodkas vodka.
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Post by Jaga on Mar 6, 2006 12:23:04 GMT -7
Here is also a bit about the beer war:
In the past the EU has fought long battles over the definition of beer. Germany’s “beer purity law” or “Reinheitsgebot” (originally enacted in April 1516) permitted only four ingredients in the beverage: water, hops, barley, and yeast. The Reinheitsgebot, which was Germany’s oldest surviving law, was officially lifted in 1987 after a European court ruling forced the Germans to allow foreign “non-pure” beers onto their markets. The law, however, was still apllied to beers made within Germany, until last year when a German court ruled that a German brewer who added sugar syrup to his brew was allowed to call it “beer.”
However, though the EU forced Germany to break with its centuries old traditions this does not mean that the Americans can get away with it. Last year the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg ruled that the American brewer Anheuser-Busch is not allowed to use its Budweiser brand name in Portugal (or anywhere else in the EU).
According to the European Court only the Czech (government-owned) brewer Budejovicky Budvar is allowed to call its brand “Budweiser.” Anheuser-Busch, the world’s third largest brewer, started brewing Budweiser in 1876, 19 years before Budejovicky Budvar was founded in 1895. However, Budejovicky Budvar is located in the Czech town of Ceske Budejovice, which until the Second World War was inhabited by German-speakers who called the town by its original name Budweis. According to the court the Americans were not the first to brew Budweiser because beer had been brewed in Budweis since 1265.
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Post by jimpres on Mar 6, 2006 13:53:17 GMT -7
All I can say about Zubrowka is Polish Vodka uber alles.
Jim
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piwo
Citizen of the World
Co Słychać?
Posts: 1,189
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Post by piwo on Mar 6, 2006 18:21:04 GMT -7
Same shoe applies to "Budvar" here in the USA as to selling under it's given name: It cannot be sold under that name, it is sold here as 'Czhechvar", and is available at grocery stores here.
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Post by leslie on Mar 7, 2006 2:30:32 GMT -7
All I can say about Zubrowka is Polish Vodka uber alles. Jim I can do nothing but agree with you wholeheartedly about Zubrówka - and I have tried many brands, many times! Leslie NancySome time ago you gave (I'm sure it was you) the Unicodes &#xxx for the Polish diacritics, but you missed a 'z' with dot above it. Have you got this code - as you know I am pedantic and like to be absolutely correct! Sir L |
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Mar 7, 2006 7:46:44 GMT -7
Leslie,
Z with a dot above is & # 379; for upper case Ż
and
& # 380; for lower case ż
(obviously - without the spaces)
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Post by leslie on Mar 7, 2006 8:14:24 GMT -7
Nancy Many thanks. As always I know I can rely on you. Could you be my adopted mother? Sir L (that would make you a dame (whoops, sorry, a Dame))  Now I can write Żubrówka!!! |
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nancy
European
Posts: 2,144
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Post by nancy on Mar 7, 2006 11:36:58 GMT -7
Could you be my adopted mother? granddaughter, perhaps ;D |
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Post by kaima on Mar 7, 2006 20:20:04 GMT -7
Could you be my adopted mother? granddaughter, perhaps ;D I had my own mother & grandmother. Who has a bottle of Polish vodka to donate? Kai |
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Post by kaima on Mar 7, 2006 20:24:54 GMT -7
Cesky Budwieser and the Seller of American Horse P^&& under the name "budweiser" have a century old agreement to give the US market to the immoral Bushes in America and sell teh good Cesky Budweiser under that name in Europe. Now the rich Amis want to push the small Cesky brewery around, and even to buy them, but teh Czechs have too much pride and stick by "better poor and producing quality than to sell horse P^&&".
Oh, I may have added poetic licence to that last part. If you ever get to Europe, try the Cesky Budweiser!
Kai
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piwo
Citizen of the World
Co Słychać?
Posts: 1,189
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Post by piwo on Mar 15, 2006 18:36:05 GMT -7
Cesky Budwieser and the Seller of American Horse P^&& under the name "budweiser" have a century old agreement to give the US market to the immoral Bushes in America and sell teh good Cesky Budweiser under that name in Europe. Now the rich Amis want to push the small Cesky brewery around, and even to buy them, but teh Czechs have too much pride and stick by "better poor and producing quality than to sell horse P^&&". Oh, I may have added poetic licence to that last part. If you ever get to Europe, try the Cesky Budweiser! Kai Your an angry person kai..... Personally, i'll buy the Czechvar, since it is the same beer under a different name, and be satisfied to have the "real deal" any time I want, and let the giant corporations do what they do (like hiring 10's of thousands of those union workers you like  )! |
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