Blanddryck

Blanddryck is a Swedish term for any beverage produced by combining two or more ingredients. The category encompasses both alcoholic mixed drinks—commonly referred to as cocktails—and non-alcoholic blends such as fruit punches, milkshakes, smoothies, and flavored sodas.

Typical components include a base (water, juice, milk, tea or coffee), a mixer or flavoring (fruit purée or juice, syrups, soda, bitters, herbs), and optional additives (ice, foam, garnishes). Preparation varies: drinks may be shaken, stirred, or blended to achieve the desired texture and cold temperature. Presentation commonly involves specific glassware and appropriate garnishes.

As a broad umbrella term, blanddryck covers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The alcoholic subset is commonly called cocktails, while non-alcoholic blanddrycks include milkshakes, smoothies, and punches. The term is widely used in Swedish menus, schools, and product labeling to indicate a blended beverage rather than a single-ingredient drink.

The practice of mixing beverages has ancient roots and evolved significantly with modern cocktail culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. In Sweden and other Nordic countries, blanddryck labeling reflects a general category for mixed drinks and can vary by establishment in terms of recipe, terminology, and formality.