page_title: Czech cuisine
section_title: Beverages
hierarchical_section_title: Czech cuisine / Beverages
caption_attribution_description: Čeština: Lahev piva Pilsner Urquell vedle sklenice s Pilsnerem, Praha Deutsch: Bierflasche Pilsner Urquell neben einem Bierglas in Prag English: A bottle of Pilsner Urquell beside the glass of Pilsner Urquell beer, Prague, Czech Republic Esperanto: Botelo da pilsena "pra-fonta" biero apud glaso, en Prago (Ĉeĥio) Українська: Пляшка пива Pilsner Urquell, яке вариться в Пльзені (Чехія)
context_page_description: Czech cuisine has both influenced and been influenced by the cuisines of surrounding countries and nations. Many of the cakes and pastries that are popular in Central Europe originated within the Czech lands. Contemporary Czech cuisine is more meat-based than in previous periods; the current abundance of farmable meat has enriched its presence in regional cuisine. Traditionally, meat has been reserved for once-weekly consumption, typically on weekends. The body of Czech meals typically consists of two or more courses; the first course is traditionally soup, the second course is the main dish, and the third course can include supplementary courses, such as dessert or compote. In the Czech cuisine, thick soups and many kinds of sauces, both based on stewed or cooked vegetables and meats, often with cream, as well as baked meats with natural sauces, are popular dishes usually accompanied with beer, especially Pilsner, that Czechs consume the most in the world. Czech cuisine is also very strong in sweet main courses and desserts, a unique feature in European cuisines.
context_section_description: Czech republic has highest per-capita consumption of beer in the world. Most common style, which originated here, is Pilsner. Aside from beer, Czechs also produce wine mostly in the region of Moravia and a unique liquors— Becherovka. Czech Slivovitz and other pálenka (fruit brandies) are traditionally distilled in the country and are considered national drink. More recently new drinks became popular, among them Tuzemák, traditionally marketed as "Czech rum", is made from potatoes or sugar beets. A mixed drink consisting of Becherovka and tonic water is known under the portmanteau of Beton ("concrete"). Another popular mixed drink is Fernet Stock mixed with tonic, called "Bavorák" or "Bavorské pivo" (literally "Bavarian beer"). Kofola is a non-alcoholic Czech soft drink somewhat similar in look and taste to Coca-Cola, but not as sweet. Kofola was invented in communist Czechoslovakia as a substitute to the Coca-Cola that they would not import, but it became so popular that production has continued well past the end of communism in the country.
caption: Pilsner Urquell served in Prague
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