My honey's getting drunk!

People in Sopot seem to forget about their beach for the winter time. So now I'm stealing my moments of being the only proprietor of one of the most charming sand stretches on the Polish coast. I run along the waterline infusing my eyes with bright sapphire of the sea and inhaling the chilly air. Then I let my body be swallowed by the hungry waves - what in these temperatures literally takes my breath away.

When I come home I can still smell the breeze in my hair and feel the salt on my skin - and that's like heaven. But I also get these horrible freezing cold in my backbone and believe me - hot tea is not enough here...






















So I reach for Krupnik. The name can be misleading as it's usually used for describing a typical Polish soup with grains and veggies. However, for people who have once tasted the honey liquer I'm thinking of, the soup could not exist at all...

As you can read on the label, it's made of the best bee honey, spices and aromatic herbs according to some specially guarded old recipes dating back to 17th century.

















Poland is a real kingdom of outstanding varities of honey made from acacia, lilac, buckwheat, pine, linden, to name the most renowned ones.

When we were children, my brother and I were having thick sandwiches of dark rye bread, home-made cottage cheese and heavy layer of golden honey for winter breakfasts. I always remember that delicacy whenever I put a honey mask on my lips.

















Anyway , Krupnik is sweet, strong and really heating. I became addicted to its magical powers when I was 15 and spent one rainy and very cold summer on a canoe camp.

This year I decided to make my own one! I've searched through available recipes and made my own variation using wonderful acacia honey, spirit, orange and lemon zest, ginger, pepper, juniper, nutmeg and espresso. The mixture had its rest for 3 months and then knocked us down! Mighty strong and delicious, as my friends said.























Now that we'are planning our snowboarding Xmass expedition I was already told I wouldn't be let into the car unless I have a reasonable bottle with me. I'll think twice before I start making my own wine...