Support The Moscow Times!

Rassol Guten Morgen

Nathan Toohey
Every individual has their own personal hangover cure -- for some it's Berocca fizzy vitamins, for others it's a hair of the dog that bit you. Rassol, or pickle brine, has been the cure of choice among Russians from time immemorial. This is not just some folklore remedy -- it even has its backers among the medical community. When polled last year for an article about cures for the morning after, Dr. Yevgeny Gavrilov of the International SOS Clinic told The Moscow Times that "one way is to take rassol, the salted juice in which cucumbers are pickled. It's usually a mixture of salt, water and maybe some spices." Dr. Nikolai Cherednichenko of AlkoMed concurred: "Drink the water used to make pickled vegetables."

The problem is that a jar of pickles may not always be at hand. About eight years ago the food technologists at the Ochakovo Brewery took this matter to hand and produced rassol in a can -- minus the messy pickles. They have continued to experiment with the formula, but there's no escaping the fact that a can of rassol won't fit in your back pocket, let alone your wallet. Luckily, there is no stopping progress: Instant rassol has arrived.

Guten Morgen instant rassol is 10 grams of concentrated salted pickle extract, sorrel extract, dried dill and other pickly goodness, all mixed together in a convenient individually portioned package. Perfect for sudden business trips and other unexpected drinking sessions. At about 14 rubles a pack, drinkers never need be without a glass of pickle juice again -- just add water.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more