What does kissel mean?
Kissel is a sweet, thick fruit drink traditionally prepared from fermented grape juice, often with added sugar, spices, or raisins. It is especially associated with Passover and other Jewish holidays, when it may be served alongside the festive meal or included in a seder. Recipes and names for the drink vary among families, communities, and commercial producers, so its color and flavor can range from light and fruit-forward to dark, spiced, and mildly alcoholic. In English, the word occurs chiefly in North American Jewish communities and in accounts of holiday meals. Although kissel resembles fruit punch or spiced sangria, those are only broad comparisons: fermented grapes and the drink's established role in Jewish holiday tradition are its defining features. The term is relatively uncommon outside specifically Jewish culinary contexts.
nounA sweet, thick drink made from fermented grape juice, usually with sugar and spices, traditionally served during Jewish holidays, especially Passover.
- A sweet, thick, usually spiced drink made from fermented grape juice and served during Jewish holidays, especially Passover.
"At the seder, our family served sweet kissel alongside the matzah."
"At the seder, our family served sweet kissel alongside the matzah."
"The bakery sold small bottles of traditional Passover kissel for customers to take home."
The plural is kissels, although the singular is much more common.
"The host set out several bowls of sweet kissels for the guests."
Kissel carries its history in its name: its Slavic roots are connected with the same sourness found in many languages' word for sour.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kissel come from?
Kissel entered English from Yiddish קיסל (kisl), ultimately from Russian кисель (kisél). The Russian word belongs to a family of Slavic terms associated with sourness and denotes a thickened fruit drink. Related forms include Ukrainian kysel and Belarusian kisel.
How kissel is actually used
The term is culturally specific and normally occurs in discussions of Jewish holiday food and customs. Recipes vary considerably, and some versions contain a small amount of alcohol as a result of fermentation.
Easily confused with kissel
Kissel is a holiday drink, whereas kismet means fate or destiny.