Dônk

Dônk is a type of wine popular in Sweden and Norway. It is part of the homebrewing tradition. Dônk is particularly popular among young adolescents, who drink this relatively cheap drink as a substitute to expensive and heavily taxed spirits and beer, which are only available in state-controlled shops.

Preparation
The most important ingredients of dônk are fruit juice, sugar and yeast. Using a homebrewing kit, dônk is made in batches of around 25 liters in a big barrel. Once the dônk has fermented and has the desired alcohol percentage, usually around 17-18 volume percent, sulfite is added to kill the remaining yeast and stop the fermentation process. The dônk is then sifted and poured into a smaller container.

Usage
The person in charge of the whole process is called the Dônkmaster or Dônkmistress and has considerable status in his peer group. Dônk is traditionally served in 4-liter plastic Jerrycans and should be drunken directly from the can. The drinking ritual itself resembles the drinking of sangría among young adolescents in Southern Europe. The drinker uses the right hand to hold the grip, balancing the can on the lower arm. This can be quite hard with a full can and spilling of any dônk is considered a crime. The can is passed around among the drinkers while they sing: "Denna dônken den ska vandra, från den ena till den andra. Låt den gå, låt den gå, låt den aldrig stilla stå." Although the dônk has been sifted, chances are some sediments are left at the bottom of the can. The consumers try to avoid these sediments since they are regarded as the main cause of headache that occurs often the day after drinking dônk.