What anise-flavored spirit is a traditional Lebanese drink? Arak. This clear, grape-based spirit is distilled with aniseed and is widely regarded as Lebanon’s national drink.
Lebanese arak is strongly associated with the Bekaa Valley and is often made from local grape varieties such as Marawi and Obaideh. Production traditionally involves fermenting grapes, distilling the alcohol, redistilling it with aniseed, and sometimes aging the spirit in clay amphoras. Arak is commonly bottled at 50% alcohol by volume or higher, making it substantially stronger than many table wines.
It is usually served with water and ice alongside mezze or grilled meat. Dilution turns the clear spirit cloudy or milky-white because anise oil is soluble in alcohol but not in water; this is called the ouzo effect. Arak is often confused with ouzo, pastis, or sambuca because all are anise-flavored drinks, but they come from different traditions and generally use different base spirits and production methods.