As with a lot of their food, the influence of neighbouring countries also penetrated in Austria's drinks. Of course, the famous Viennese coffee is the hallmark of Austria, although it is not originally Austrian. Also like strudel, it was brought here in the XVII century by Turkish settlers. Whipped cream is added to the cup, and on top is sprinkled with cinnamon, chopped nuts, or citrus zest. There are also plenty of other topping options that include coffee with chocolate, berry syrups and powdered sugar. In local coffee shops, visitors are offered at least 30 varieties of coffee. The coffee shops in Austria have a special status, as the locals like to spend quite a lot of time here with friends and relatives, play board games or, conversely, spend time in a quiet and calm atmosphere reading a book.
The famous Ve made Almdudler, made from sugar, mineral water and herbal extracts, is a herbal lemonade recipe of which has not changed since 1957.
Austria has about 170 breweries and about 1,000 different types of beer. Only the Czech Republic or Germany can compete with the number of varieties. According to many connoisseurs of beer, the best varieties can be found in Styria, where the most popular beers among the local population like Puntigamer, Gösser and Murauer are produced. In Salzburg, Stiegl, which is where the largest brewery in Austria is located, has existed since 1492.
It should be noted that Austrian restaurants have excellent varieties of white wines, including Greiner Veltliner, Neuburger, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Among the traditional beverages, it is worth highlighting Eiswein, which is made from frozen grapes and served ice cold. When it comes to strong drinks, this is definitely Gerdi's hunting tea. The process of its preparation consists in mixing tea and honey with schnapps or red wine and spices.