What Is Uzvar? Dried Fruit Drink of Ukrainian Christmas Eve

Part of our Heritage Kitchen Glossary – short guides to the ingredients and techniques behind Eastern European cooking.

A compote with a ritual job

Uzvar is a traditional Ukrainian fruit drink. The Encyclopedia of Ukraine describes it as a compote that can be made from fresh or dried fruit, and the Christmas version is made from dried fruit. The usual fruit is pears, apples and plums, sometimes with cherries, and apricots are common in the south. Another old name for the drink is var, from varyty, “to cook.”

Beside the kutia

Alongside kutia, the sweetened wheat dish, uzvar is one of the two main ceremonial dishes of Sviata Vecheria, the Ukrainian Christmas Eve Holy Supper, and both are known as “food of the gods.” An article published by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage describes the bowl of uzvar being placed under the icons in the home’s holy corner, with some saved to drink after the first taste of kutia, which the family eats from one bowl.

The supper traditionally has twelve meatless dishes, and uzvar needs no change to fit: the published recipes use only dried fruit, water and a sweetener, sometimes with spices. One published kutia recipe even finishes by pouring uzvar over the grain. The rest of the menu is gathered in our Sviata Vecheria recipes.

Jug, bowl and a long steep

In the older custom, the liquid was poured into a jug and the softened fruit was brought to the table separately in a bowl. Uzvar was cooked on ordinary days as well as holidays.

The published recipes share one method: rinse the dried fruit, cook it in water, let it cool and infuse, then sweeten. Cooking ranges from 5–10 minutes of simmering to 3–4 hours in the oven, and the drink tastes better once it has infused. Our traditional uzvar recipe simmers the fruit, leaves it covered for several hours and stirs in honey while the liquid is still warm. It is served warm, like tea, or chilled.

Where else it turns up

Uzvar is often described as a variety of kompot, the fruit drink made from fresh fruit in summer. It comes back on New Year’s Eve: at Malanka, also called Shchedryi Vechir, kutia and uzvar are again the two dishes that have to be on the table. Both are on our Malanka menu, and the wheat dish has its own kutia recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is uzvar?

A Ukrainian drink of dried fruit, usually pears, apples and plums, cooked in water and sweetened with honey or sugar. It is one of the two main ceremonial dishes of the Christmas Eve supper.

Is uzvar the same as kompot?

Close, but not quite. Uzvar is often described as a variety of kompot: kompot is usually made from fresh fruit and berries in summer, while uzvar uses dried fruit. The Encyclopedia of Ukraine notes that uzvar can also be made from fresh fruit.

Why is uzvar served on Christmas Eve?

Uzvar and kutia are the two main ceremonial dishes of Sviata Vecheria and the first dishes eaten that night, and both are known as “food of the gods.” The bowl of uzvar is placed under the icons.

Is uzvar alcoholic?

No. The published recipes use only dried fruit, water and a sweetener, sometimes with spices.

Is uzvar served hot or cold?

Either. It can be served warm, like tea, or chilled, and some recipes suggest serving it cold or at room temperature.

What Is Uzvar? The Dried Fruit Drink of Ukrainian Christmas Eve