Local Drinks

1. Kofola

   Kofola (Czech herbal cola)

   Usage

   Launched in 1960 from the Kofo syrup developed in 1959 at the Prague research institute for medicinal plants. Its 14 components include apple and blackcurrant extract, liquorice, raspberry, caramel and oils of anise, cardamom, orange and cinnamon. It is less sweet and more herbal than other colas; pubs serve "točená Kofola" on draught

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; the accusative used when ordering is "Kofolu" — "Kofolu, prosím." Sizes are "velkou" (large) or "malou" (small) Kofolu

2. nealkoholické pivo

   Non-alcoholic beer

   Usage

   Beer under 0.5% alcohol. The first Czech one was Pito in the 1970s, its name built from "PIvo" + "auTO" to aim it at drivers. The market leader is Radegast Birell, and asking for a "Birell" by name usually works. Most Czech versions stop fermentation at an early stage

   Grammar Note

   "pivo" is neuter and its accusative is unchanged: "Jedno nealkoholické pivo, prosím." "nealkoholické" is the neuter adjective form

3. turecká káva

   "Turkish" coffee (grounds steeped in the cup)

   Usage

   Despite the name it shares only the name with real Turkish coffee: ground coffee is put in the cup, boiling water is poured on and you wait for the grounds to settle, leaving the last mouthful. Colloquially "turek", or "kafe s lógrem" (coffee with sediment). Still standard in Czech cafés and canteens

   Grammar Note

   "káva" is feminine; the accusative used when ordering is "tureckou kávu" — "Tureckou kávu, prosím."

4. vídeňská káva

   Coffee topped with whipped cream

   Usage

   In Czech usage this means "česká turecká káva" with whipped cream (šlehačka) on top — not the same thing as the Viennese coffee of that name. Like turecká káva, it leaves grounds at the bottom

   Grammar Note

   "káva" is feminine; the accusative is "vídeňskou kávu". "vídeňská" is the adjective from "Vídeň" (Vienna)

5. perlivá voda

   Sparkling water

   Usage

   Water charged with carbon dioxide; "sycená voda" means the same. Water carbonated artificially is "sodová voda", colloquially "sodovka" or "sifon"

   Grammar Note

   "voda" is feminine; the accusative is "perlivou vodu" — "Perlivou vodu, prosím."

6. Mattoni

   Mattoni (Czech mineral water)

   Usage

   Mineral water from the spring at Kyselka, a village near Karlovy Vary; Heinrich Mattoni took over the bottling operation in 1864 and founded the company in 1873. Restaurants normally list bottled water by brand rather than as "voda", so this is the name you will see on the menu

   Grammar Note

   A foreign brand name, so it does not decline: "Mattoni, prosím." You can also just ask for "minerálku", the accusative of "minerálka" (mineral water)

7. jablečný mošt

   Pressed apple juice

   Usage

   Juice obtained purely by pressing fruit; Czech labelling regulation 248/2018 reserves "mošt" for directly pressed juice. It is unfermented and contains no alcohol. Pressed grape juice is "vinný mošt", and the partially fermented stage of it is "burčák"

   Grammar Note

   "mošt" is masculine inanimate and its accusative is unchanged. "jablečný" is the adjective from "jablko" (apple, neuter)

8. džus

   Fruit juice

   Usage

   The general word for fruit juice. It contrasts with "mošt": juice that has been concentrated and reconstituted also counts as "džus". If you want it freshly pressed, look for "čerstvý" or for "mošt" on the menu

   Grammar Note

   Masculine inanimate with an unchanged accusative. A loanword spelled to match the Czech pronunciation of English "juice"

9. limonáda

   Sweet fizzy soft drink

   Usage

   Not English "lemonade": in Czech this is the general term for a sweet fizzy soft drink of any flavour. A version with under 2 g/l of carbon dioxide is called "nesycená limonáda"

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; the accusative is "limonádu"

10. malinovka

    Raspberry-flavoured soft drink

    Usage

    A kind of "limonáda": a sweet red soft drink, often what children are given

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, accusative "malinovku". Built from "malina" (raspberry) with -ovka, a productive suffix for drink names

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