Leslie Massey
Austria is known for its hearty and indulgent dishes, with generous use of meats and root vegetables. But what drinks does the country have to offer? From coffee to beer, wine, and schnapps, there's something for everyone. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most popular drinks in Austria and explore the country's unique drinking culture. So, get ready to sip your way through the stunning Alpine country!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coffee | Consumed by 92% of Austrians daily |
| Tea | Gained popularity among the Austrian aristocracy and then spread to the general public |
| Beer | Light lagers, similar to the Bavarian tradition, are called "Märzen" in Austria |
| Wine | Grüner Veltliner, Schilcher, Welschriesling, Zweigelt, Sankt Laurent, and Blaufränkischer are some of the varieties |
| Non-alcoholic drinks | Almdudler, a sweetened drink made from grape and apple juice concentrates and flavoured with herbs |
| Spirits | Schnaps, Stroh (spiced rum), Glühwein (mulled wine), Obstler (fruit schnapps), and Jagertee (a mix of black tea and rum) |
| Cocktails | Spritzer (white wine and soda or sparkling mineral water), Aperol Spritz, Kaiserspritzer, Hugo-Spritzer, and Hugo |
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What You'll Learn
Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
- Kleiner Brauner and Großer Brauner: "Little brown one" or "large brown one", this is what most people would consider ordinary coffee: black with a bit of milk, but typically not filtered, but steamed like espresso.
- Melange: The "king of coffee", this is a mix of frothed milk and steamed coffee similar to the Italian cappuccino, but consumed at any time of the day.
- Milchkaffee or Café Latte: A large coffee with frothed milk, which has recently gained popularity, probably due to its fancy Italian name.
- Einspänner: Strong, black coffee typically served in a high glass with a dash of whipped cream.
- Fiaker: Named after horse-and-carriages, the Fiaker is a less common drink of coffee with a shot of Austrian rum and whipped cream.
- Kurzer or Espresso: In recent years, the Austrian term "Kurzer" ("short one") has become less common, with "espresso" being found more often on menus.
- Türkischer: "Turkish one", this is Turkish-style coffee—grated coffee boiled for a long time in water with sugar and served very hot and strong, with the grains still in the cup.
- Eiskaffee: Cold coffee with vanilla ice cream, chocolate, and whipped cream, typically served in the summer months.
- Cappuccino: The Austrian version is made with coffee and whipped cream, rather than frothed milk.
Hot chocolate is also popular in Austria, with several brands producing instant and non-instant cocoa powder, including Benco, Nesquick, and Bensdorp Kakao. Zotter is a popular brand of hot chocolate in Austria, offering a range of drinking chocolates—small bars of chocolate that you swirl into hot milk until dissolved.
Tea is also consumed in Austria, with iced tea being a popular drink during the summer months.
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Wine
Legendary Austrian white wines include the Grüner Veltliner, a very acidic and refreshing wine, the Schilcher, and the Welschriesling. A Styrian classic is the Uhudler. In Burgenland, dessert wines like "Spätlese" and "Eiswein" are commonly produced and have an international reputation. They are often made from the sweet and spicy Traminer grape.
Sturm is a young grape juice that is lightly fermented and very sweet. It is made from either white or red grapes and, according to Austrian wine law, can only be sold between August 1 and December 31, with a minimum alcohol content of 1%. It is a popular way to celebrate the harvest season, and it is customary to raise the glass with the left hand and say "Mahlzeit" (Enjoy your meal) instead of "Prost" (Cheers).
Spritzer, or G’spritzter, is a popular summer drink in Austria, traditionally made with white wine and soda or sparkling mineral water. It can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with a meal, or as a thirst quencher. There are many variations of the Spritzer, such as adding sweet lemonade or elderberry syrup. The Aperol Spritz, for example, is a variation that includes Aperol and a slice of orange. The Hugo-Spritzer is another variation that includes fresh mint, elderberry syrup, and white wine.
During the Christmas market season, Glühwein (mulled wine) and Punsch are must-tries. Glühwein is a warming mix of hot red wine blended with sugar, orange, lemon, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Punsch is a mixture of fruit juice, spices, and liquor, with orange, apple, and berries being the most popular flavours.
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Beer
Salzburg is a centre of Austrian beer culture, perhaps due to its proximity to Bavaria, another beer-loving region. The Upper Austrian brewing tradition is influenced by Czech beers. The popular Salzburg brewery, Stiegl, offers a wide range of beers.
During the summer, a Spritzer (or G’spritzter) is a popular drink, made with white wine and soda or sparkling mineral water, and often enjoyed as an aperitif or with a meal. A sweet version of the Spritzer is made with lemonade instead of soda water. The Hugo-Spritzer is a variation of the Kaiserspritzer, which is made with elderberry syrup, fresh mint, and white wine.
In September and October, Austrians celebrate the harvest season with Sturm, a fermenting grape juice on its way to becoming wine. It is made with white and red grapes and, according to Austrian law, can only be sold between August 1 and December 31, with an alcohol content of at least 1%.
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Schnapps and other spirits
Schnapps is a popular drink in Austria, often served as a digestif after a meal. It is typically high in alcohol content, and the most popular variety around Christmas time is made from walnuts. Other popular types of schnapps include Willi and Zirberl.
Sturm is another beverage that is widely consumed in Austria. It is a new wine that is in the process of fermentation, typically made from white or red grapes, although it can also be made from apples. Sturm is usually enjoyed during the harvest season in September and October, and it is considered a ritualistic drink. Austrians also have their own version of cider, which is traditionally made from apples.
In addition to schnapps and cider, Austrians enjoy a variety of other spirits and alcoholic beverages. Punsch, or "Turbo-Punsch", is a traditional mixture of fruit juice or tea with spices and liquor, commonly enjoyed during the Christmas season. Glühwein, or mulled wine, is another popular drink during the colder months, made by blending hot red wine with sugar, orange, lemon, cloves, and cinnamon. Jagertee, a mix of black tea and a shot of Inländer rum, is also consumed when the temperatures drop.
For those who enjoy a stronger drink, Stroh is a spiced rum that can have an alcohol content of up to 80%. Obstler is another strong spirit, a type of fruit schnapps that is relatively inexpensive. Austria also has a range of popular cocktails, including the Aperol Spritz, a mix of Aperol and the traditional Austrian drink Spritzer (white wine and soda or sparkling mineral water). The Hugo-Spritzer is a variation of the Spritzer that includes fresh mint, while the Kaiserspritzer adds elderberry syrup. The Radler is a beer-based mixed drink that is especially popular during the summer, often mixed with lemonade, Almdudler, or Sprite.
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Non-alcoholic drinks
Austria has a wide variety of drinks, including several non-alcoholic options. Here are some of the most notable non-alcoholic drinks to try in Austria:
Almdudler
Almdudler is one of the most popular soft drinks in Austria. It is a natural alpine herb soft drink made from a blend of 32 natural alpine herbs, beet sugar, and soda water. The name comes from an old Viennese dialect expression, "auf der Alm dudeln," which means "yodeling on the meadows." It captures the essence of the Austrian mountains in a bottle.
Spritzer
The spritzer, or G'spritzter, is a traditional Austrian drink that has become an integral part of the country's culture. It is typically made with white wine and soda or sparkling mineral water. A sweet version can be made by adding lemonade or Sprite instead of soda water. The drink can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with a meal, or as a refreshing thirst quencher during the summer.
Sturm
Sturm is a unique Austrian beverage, a young wine in the process of fermentation. It is made from white or red grapes and has a sweet, low-alcohol, slightly fizzy taste. According to Austrian wine law, Sturm can only be sold between August 1 and December 31 and must have an alcohol content of at least 1%.
Coffee
Coffee is a popular drink in Austria, with a long history dating back to the establishment of the first kaffeehaus in Vienna in 1683. In Vienna, Jause is a daily ritual where people enjoy coffee and pastries at 4 pm in the city's coffeehouses. There are various ways to order coffee, from verkehrt (almost milk pale) to mocca (ebony black). A brauner (coffee with milk) is a safe choice, and for those with a sweet tooth, kaffee mit schlagobers (coffee with whipped cream) is a perfect treat.
Null Komma Josef
For those who enjoy the taste of beer without the alcohol, Null Komma Josef is a local alcohol-free beer option available in Vienna's bars and taverns.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrians are known for their love of beer, wine, and coffee. In terms of alcoholic drinks, some popular options include:
- Beer: Light lagers are the most common type of beer in Austria, where they are called "Märzen".
- Wine: Wine is widely produced in the provinces of Styria, Burgenland, Lower Austria, and Vienna. Legendary Austrian white wines include the Grüner Veltliner, the Schilcher, and the Welschriesling.
- Schnapps: Austrians often enjoy a small cup of schnapps after a meal to aid digestion.
- Sturm: A new wine that is in the process of fermentation, often consumed in September and October to celebrate the harvest season.
- Glühwein: A warming mix of hot red wine blended with sugar, orange, lemon, cloves, and cinnamon.
- Punsch: A mixture of fruit juice or tea with spices and liquor, often consumed at Christmas markets.
Although alcoholic drinks are prevalent in Austria, there are also several non-alcoholic options to choose from:
- Coffee: Coffee is extremely popular in Austria, with 92% of Austrians claiming to drink it daily. Vienna is home to some of the oldest and most decadent coffeehouses in Europe, which have been granted UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status.
- Tea: Although not as widely consumed as coffee, tea holds a special place in Austrian culture. In recent years, new varieties such as Rooibos, Pu Erh, and Matcha have gained popularity.
- Almdudler: A sweetened drink made from grape and apple juice concentrates, flavoured with 32 natural herbs. It is considered Austria's national drink.
- Elderberry syrup: A common ingredient in mixed drinks and cocktails, as well as cooking and baking.
Austrians have several unique customs and rituals when it comes to drinking:
- Gemütlichkeit: This word describes the lounge time after a meal when Austrians linger over drinks and conversation for hours. It reflects a happy mood and a sense of social acceptance and belonging.
- Prost: Before taking a sip, Austrians pause and make eye contact with their tablemates, clinking their glasses together and saying "prost", which means "cheers".
- Sturm ritual: When drinking Sturm, the glass is traditionally raised with the left hand, and toasting is replaced with the word "Mahlzeit", meaning "enjoy your meal".
