Arak, ouzo, raki, pastis and mahia are all anise spirits, and all of them turn white when water is added. They differ in where they come from, what they are made from, and how strong they are.
The comparison in one table
| Spirit | From | Base | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arak | Middle East: Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan | Grapes and anise | Varies: 40% is common in Israel, often over 50% in Lebanon |
| Ouzo | Greece and Cyprus | Distilled spirit with anise | At least 37.5% |
| Raki | Turkey | Grapes, distilled a second time with aniseed | At least 40%, 45% in the common brands |
| Pastis | France | Spirit with anise, mostly star anise, and licorice root | At least 40%, usually 40% to 45% |
| Mahia | Morocco | Fruit, mainly figs or dates, and anise | On the Cohen family's 1925 label: 40 degrees |
Arak
A distilled anise spirit from the Middle East, traditionally made from grapes and aniseed. It is drunk diluted with water. In Israel it is commonly 40% alcohol, and in Lebanon it is usually stronger.
Ouzo
An anise spirit from Greece and Cyprus. EU rules set a minimum of 37.5% alcohol and protect the name: within the EU, only Greece and Cyprus may use it.
Raki
The national drink of Turkey. It is distilled twice: first a grape spirit, then again with aniseed. Under the Turkish standard it must contain at least 40% alcohol.
Pastis
A French anise spirit, closely associated with Marseille. Its taste comes mainly from star anise and licorice root.
Mahia
The distilled spirit of Moroccan Jews. Its base is fruit, mainly figs or dates, and the anise joins it. In arak, by contrast, the anise is the main thing. More in the guide What is mahia?
Why they all turn white
They all contain anethole, the oil that gives anise its taste. Anethole dissolves in strong alcohol but not in water, so when water is added it comes out of solution and the drink turns milky. More in the guide How to drink arak.
Where Arack Mabrouka fits in
Our family started in 1925 in Essaouira, Morocco, with mahia. Today we distill arak in Israel from three kinds of anise, triple distilled. And what sells the most are ready-to-drink arak cocktails made with real fruit.
Short questions
Are arak and ouzo the same thing?
No. Both are anise spirits that turn white with water, but arak comes from the Middle East and is traditionally based on grapes, while ouzo comes from Greece and Cyprus.
Is raki a type of arak?
They are very close: both use grapes and anise. Raki comes from Turkey, and arak from the Middle East.