Recipe and medicinal properties of the Ukrainian local drink Kalganіvka

I often tell you about how to drink different types of alcohol: wine, cognac, rum, and how to make pop cocktails in your own kitchen, where you don’t always have special ingredients and utensils. But today I realized that I rarely write about Ukrainian traditional local alcohol drinks that deserve attention. So I’m going to correct the situation and turn to the national classic — kalganivka or kalgan tincture. Yes, that’s right, the one you most frequently find in Carpathian kolyba (huts). It has been drunk in Ukraine for centuries. Probably even for millennia.

So we are talking about traditional Ukrainian alcohol, which in small quantities not only does not cause a hangover, but also has medicinal properties.

What is the Ukrainian local drink Kalganivka?

Kalganovka is a strong tincture based on galangal. In botany, this plant is called Lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum). The roots are used to make Kalganivka. The drink is usually prepared, that is, infused with vodka or moonshine.

What is the secret of galangal root? Not only does it have a special flavor that is unlike anything else, but it also has beneficial properties in the treatment of certain diseases. Thus, in reasonable quantities, galangal can be considered a classic example of a combination of pleasant taste and health benefits.

The main characteristics of this tincture are its taste, color and aroma, which the galangal root imparts to the alcohol. Despite the fact that it is made from the root, the drink has a delicate floral bouquet and an attractive amber-red hue.

How and where to find galangal root?

If you are confident in your skills and ability to distinguish galangal from many other similar species, you can collect it yourself. This plant is often found in pine forests. One of the characteristic features is that its yellow flower has four petals, unlike other types of Alpinia officinarum, which usually have five.

The root is harvested in April-May or in the fall. The harvesting process is quite simple: the raw material is cleaned of soil and small roots, washed and dried. The galangal root retains its qualities for 2–3 years.

For those who are not confident in their botanical expertise, the best option would be to purchase galangal root from a pharmacy or from reliable sellers of medicinal herbs.

Dried raw materials are very hard pieces of roots resembling tubers. Grinding galangal is a non-trivial task: it cannot be broken by hand or cut with a knife. However, for the preparation of galangal, you need uncrushed rhizomes.

How and with what is Kalganivka drunk?

As for the taste, this tincture is good to combine with hot dishes of Ukrainian cuisine and use as a digestive – a drink served after a meal or with dessert to cleanse the taste buds and improve the digestive process.

Tincture of galangal: medicinal properties

Kalgan grows all over Europe, but for some reason it has become popular in Western Ukraine in the form of tinctures.

What does galangal root help with?

In the Carpathians, it is nicknamed “Ukrainian ginseng” and the infusions and decoction based on the plant root are credited with unique healing properties, including the ability to increase male virility and help restore gastrointestinal health. For medicinal purposes, Kalganivka should be taken in limited doses.

The drink can help fight various diseases, such as:

1. Gastritis and stomach ulcers;
2. Problems with potency and prostatitis;
3. Jaundice and liver cirrhosis;
4. Acute respiratory infections and flu;
5. Inflammation of the oral mucosa.

When consumed regularly, the drink helps to strengthen the immune system and is also an effective anti-worming agent.

Due to its simple recipe, availability, and pleasant taste, the tincture is popular among fans of homemade alcoholic beverages. Kalganivka is easy to drink and does not cause a hangover in small doses. It is important, however, to consume it carefully, as it can affect blood pressure.

Kalganivka tincture – recipes for cooking at home

Most often, the drink is prepared on the basis of vodka or moonshine, chopped peeled galangal root is added and insisted in a dark place.

To make the taste more refined, other spices are also added: anise, lemon balm, St. John’s wort, dill, licorice, sage, oak bark, and mint. If you’re keen on making galangal at home, you don’t need to think about where to get galangal root today, as you can buy ready-made spice sets.

Classic recipe for Kalganivka

You will need the following ingredients:

1. 0.5 liters of moonshine or vodka
2. 30 grams of chopped galangal root
3. A few coffee beans (optional)

Step-by-step preparation:

Step 1. In a coffee grinder, grind the galangal root to a powder.

Step 2. Pour the powder into a glass container and pour moonshine or vodka.

Step 3. Close the container tightly and shake well to mix the ingredients.

Step 4. Put the tincture in a dark place at room temperature for 2–3 weeks.

After that, the tincture can be used as a strong drink or medicine. The first option implies moderate consumption of any alcohol. The second (medicinal) method of using galangal root tincture recommends drinking 1 teaspoon three times a day for a month. After 10 days, the course can be repeated.

Herbal Kalganivka

You will need the following ingredients:

1. Galangal root – 10 g
2. Anise – 2 g
3. St. John’s wort – 5 g
4. Licorice root – 5 g
5. Sage – 2 g
6. Dill – 3 g
7. Moonshine or vodka – 1 liter

How to prepare the tincture:

Step 1. Grind all the specified herbal ingredients and place them in a container.

Step 2. Pour the contents of the container with moonshine or vodka and close the lid.

Step 3. Put the container in a dark place and leave the tincture for a month to stand.

Step 4. Strain the tincture before use.

Spicy tincture with vodka and ginger based on galangal

To make this spicy version of galangal, you will need the following ingredients:

1. Mint – 50 g
2. Ginger (fresh) – 50 g
3. Anise – 50 g
4. Galangal – 50 g
5. Sage – 5 g
6. Vodka – 1 liter

How to make Kalganivka:

Step 1. Peel and finely chop the roots.

Step 2. Add the herbs and pour the mixture with vodka.

Step 3. Keep the tincture in a dark place at room temperature for 20–25 days.

To diversify the taste of the drink, to make it softer, more refreshing or sweet, honey and lemon are also added to Kalganivka.

And if you have not yet started making homemade tinctures and have not tried Kalganivka, go to the Carpathians and do it. Or buy a healing bottle in a liquor store and support Ukrainian producers.