🥃 Podlasie

If you know the Polish vodka with a blade of grass in the bottle, Podlasie is where that grass grows. It is a historic region in the north-east of Poland, on the border with Belarus and Lithuania. Today it is the Podlaskie Voivodeship with its centre in Białystok, formed on 1 January 1999. Its main landmark is the Białowieża Forest, with the last free-roaming European bison. This is where the grass bison grass grows, which gave its name to the vodka Żubrówka.

Nature. According to the Polish tourist organisation, the region has four national parks: Białowieża, Biebrza, Narew and Wigry. Białowieża National Park is the oldest in Poland and holds some of the largest primeval forest areas in Europe. The Biebrza wetlands are a well-known place for birdwatching.

Bison grass. This is the fragrant grass Hierochloe odorata, which Difford's Guide describes as gathered in the Białowieża Forest on the border between Poland and Belarus. It is dried, and the vodka is passed several times through a layer of dry grass; each bottle contains a blade. The name comes from the Polish «żubr», meaning bison.

Protected name. Vodka with bison grass falls under the EU protected geographical indication: the drink must come from the North Podlasie Lowland and have a strength of at least 37.5% ABV. Other Polish grain or potato vodkas exist, but Podlasie is inseparably linked to the grass that grows in its local forests and meadows.

Why it matters to you. The name «Podlasie» on a label points to the region but does not guarantee quality or recipe. It is better to choose bison grass vodka by its protected designation. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.