Visináda (βυσσινάδα) - A Favorite Greek Summer Drink

The summer heat has me thinking of Greece and this drink that was all the rage there – Visináda (βυσσινάδα).

This beverage, popular with Greeks in the summertime, is made from sour cherry concentrated syrup. Although sour cherries aren’t usually eaten raw, it's becomes a heavenly creation when made into this syrup.

To enjoy your own visináda, pour one part syrup and four parts club soda or cold water in a glass.

I remember my aunt, ‘Thia’ Katina, offering me this drink at her summer home in Magouliana, the family village away from Athens. I would just pour more or less sour cherry syrup into water for a richer or lighter flavor.

This luscious drink was so refreshing. It was an enriching experience getting in touch with this form of cherry at its finest.

I also found Visináda in soda form when on a family trip to Lagonissi, Greece. It tasted so much like the homemade stuff. One more sweet memory.

Now that I’ve been away from Greece I've yearned to have this experience again.

Fortunately, the international stores, such as North Park Produce and Harvest Market (in San Diego), stock sour cherry syrup, preserve and drinks. I encourage you to seek this stuff out, so check your local markets.

I have found that the preserve isn't concentrated and the flavor becomes diluted when added to water.

I recommend sour cherry preserves with cream cheese on a croissant or piece of toast. You could even use sour cherry products with desserts such as ice cream and cheesecake. Enjoy!

#Summer #Drinks