Kissel — Unique Eastern European Fruit Jelly Drink
Kissel is one of the most distinctive and ancient beverages in Eastern European cuisine — a smooth, silky fruit drink with a characteristic slightly thick texture that sets it apart from anything else on our menu. Made from fruit juice or purée gently thickened with starch, kissel exists in a fascinating space between a drink and a dessert. At Varenik&Pelmen, we serve this thousand-year-old Eastern European tradition at London food markets for customers seeking something truly unique.
What Is Kissel? History and Origin
Over a Thousand Years Old
Kissel is one of the oldest known prepared beverages in Eastern Europe, with documented history stretching back over a thousand years. Ancient chronicles mention kissel as a common drink served at feasts and family meals. Originally made from fermented oat or wheat, the recipe evolved over centuries to the fruit-based version we know and love today.
A Drink or a Dessert?
One of the most charming things about kissel is its ambiguity. Depending on how thick it is made, kissel can be poured and drunk like a beverage or eaten with a spoon like a fruit pudding. The drinkable version has a smooth, velvety consistency — thicker than juice but thinner than a smoothie. The dessert version is firmer, served in bowls with cream. At Varenik&Pelmen, we serve it in its drinkable form.
How Kissel Is Made
Fruit and Starch
The basic process involves making a fruit juice or purée, sweetening it, then gently thickening it with potato starch or cornstarch. The starch is dissolved in cold water and stirred into the hot fruit liquid, where it transforms the texture from thin to silky-smooth. The art is in getting the thickness exactly right — enough to give kissel its distinctive body, but not so much that it becomes too thick to drink.
Flavour Varieties
Kissel can be made from virtually any fruit — berries, cherries, plums, apples, and mixed fruit are all traditional. Each variety has its own colour and flavour character, from the deep ruby of cherry kissel to the vibrant purple of berry kissel.
The Kissel Experience
Smooth and Silky
The first thing you notice about kissel is its texture. It coats your palate in a way that no other drink does — smooth, enveloping, and almost luxurious. This unique mouthfeel is what makes kissel so memorable and so different from ordinary fruit drinks.
Comforting and Nourishing
Kissel has long been valued in Eastern European folk tradition as a nourishing, stomach-soothing drink. It is often given to children as a gentle, comforting beverage and is considered a wholesome, restorative drink for anyone feeling under the weather.
Pairing Kissel with Food
Kissel’s smooth, dessert-like quality makes it a wonderful companion to bliny and syrniky. Its sweet fruitiness bridges the gap between food and drink, creating a cohesive sweet experience. For a more contrasting pairing, try it alongside savoury pelmeni — the sweetness provides an interesting counterpoint.
A Drink Unlike Any Other
If you have never tried kissel, we encourage you to take the leap. There is nothing quite like it in British food culture, and discovering it is a genuine culinary adventure. Many of our customers who try kissel for the first time are surprised and delighted by its unique character.
Experience kissel at our London food markets. See our full drinks menu.