Raki (Turkish: rakı, Ottoman Turkish: راقى, ) is a Turkish unsweetened, anise-flavored hard alcoholic drink that is popular in Turkey, Greece, Albania, Serbia, and other Balkan countries as an apéritif. It is often served with seafood or meze. It is similar to several other alcoholic beverages available around the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and in Colombia, e.g., pastis, ouzo, sambuca, arak, and aguardiente.
In the Balkans, however, "raki" refers to a non-anise-flavored drink made from distilled pomace, similar to Italian grappa, Greek tsipouro, Cretan tsikoudia (which is also know...