After last week’s post on the foods of Armenia, it is only appropriate that I follow that up with a post on the drinks of Armenia. After all, you need something to wash down all of that good food!

For one I’ve never been to a country that was so proud of its bottled water. Like France with their wines or Ireland with their whiskey, Armenia has stiff competition amongst its different water bottlers. Bottled water was served at all meals and I was often encouraged to have some so I could discover how delicious it truly was. Sadly, my palate for water superiority did not develop very much in the 5 days I was in Armenia. I will have to return to take up the study again.

And the incredibly fresh and sweet spring water didn’t just go into plastic bottles. It also went into the vats in their world famous brandy as well as into teas, coffees and fruit juices.  The country also boasts a reputable wine region to round out the beverage options.

I was cursing the customs restrictions on my way out of Armenia as I was hoping to stock up on a favorite wine and some bottles of brandy that I developed a taste for along the way, but alas, I had to leave them on the shelf.  All the more reason to return, I suppose!

Beverages of Armenia

Armenians are very proud of their bottled spring and mineral water

Visiting the Areni Winery

Our van driver, Serge, only admired but didn’t sample the wines on offer

The Areni fruit flavored wines were surprisingly not too sweet

Wine in a traditional clay cup

For me, a good cup of coffee after every meal

Not chocolate pudding…just getting to the good part of the coffee.

I’m not sure that Armenia is known for their beer, but Kotayk was actually pretty good choice.

What looks a bit like a science experiment was actually delicious thyme and mint tea

My favorite Armenian wine. The recommendation on the bottle:  “Best Served when celebrating life!”

The perfect pour of brandy will not spill out when the glass is tipped on its side.

Tasting a 3, 5 and 7 year old brandy at the Ararat factory. I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of brandy, but after learning a bit about its history and the way it is made,  I’ve certainly developed an appreciation for it.