Throughout Albania families usually produce large amounts of their own alcohol. The drink appears to serve as a social lubricant, and thus it is consumed whenever people congregate or socialize. It would be considered shameful to have guests and not be able to offer them raki. During wedding ceremonies, the groom’s father goes around all tables and offers a glass of rakia to all guests, sharing a toast for the happiness of the newlyweds. In the region of northern Albania in the valley of the river Shalë, the Shala community prepares raki made by distilling cherry plums, Prunus cerasifera. Cherry plum is also known also as myrobalan plum. The fruits are small and reddish-purple. They are harvested when they begin to mature in September. They are fermented in wooden barrel made from broadleaved deciduous tree, sycamore. After fermentation, they are distilled. The cherry plum raki is only made by the Shala community.
The Cherry plum raki is not sold commercially, and is made only for household consumption to share with family and friends.
Students of the Gastronomic Sciences at Pollenzo are collaborating with Slow Food to fill the Ark.
