🥃 Chacha

Chacha is a strong Georgian spirit made from grape pomace. Pomace is the skins, seeds and pulp left after the juice is pressed for wine. Chacha is distilled from it, so it belongs to the pomace brandies.

After winemaking the pomace is not thrown away. It is distilled to make a spirit, usually 40-65% alcohol. Chacha is made in Georgia both at home and in factories. It is closely tied to Georgian wine: in the old tradition wine ferments in clay kvevri vessels, and the pomace goes to distilling.

Similar drinks exist elsewhere, for example grape rakia in the Balkans and grappa in Italy. Chacha is very strong, so it is customarily served in small amounts. Taste depends on the grape variety and on how the distillation is done. In Georgia chacha is often served at the end of a meal and is also used in home-made infusions.