While in the United States and many other countries pure fruit brandies are a rare treat, pálinka (“PAAH-LINK-AH”) is very much an everyday drink in Hungary, with thousands of Hungarians taking the time and effort to make their own home-made házipálinka every year.
The most common form of pálinka is probably szilvapálinka (plum brandy), though it is also made from numerous other forms of gyümölcs, especially vilmos körte (Williams Pear), alma (apple) and cseresznye (cherry).
Meanwhile, the term feles pálinka (“half pálinka”) does not mean half as much as is usually drank but half deciliter, which is a lot.
Barackpálinka (apricot pálinka) is almost as important as szilvapálinka. There are also varieties with added honey (often told to be effective remedies of the cold).
“Feles” is not used only with pálinka, but with anykind of strong liquor.
I have been desperatly looking for instructions on how to make my own homemade palinka.. any help??
Debra: Find a néni, grab her by the ankles, turn her upside down and shake. Works for me!