THE LEGENDARY MASTIKA “4M”-“PIVARA SKOPJE” CONTINUED THE OLD MASTERS’ TRADITION FROM “BISERKA” FOR THIS FOLK ELIXIR
We believe that the older generation of fans of SKOPSKO will gladly and with a sense of nostalgia recall the widely famous “4M” mastika. And rightfully so. This mastika, made according to an original folk recipe for the mastika made in Strumica and optimized in modern laboratory conditions, if consumed in moderate quantities, is a real source of health. Folk doctors knew how to recommend this drink as a remedy for stomach pain, headache, insomnia, and according to modern research, it can help in the destruction of helicobacter. But you perhaps wonder, where does a brewery from Skopje have anything to do in the story of Strumica’s mastika?
The history of Pivara Skopje is something much more than the history of beer in these areas. The company’s timeline is woven from the traditions of these areas, a history that unites aspirations, destinies, knowledge, families, but also the history of different companies. It can be safely said that Pivara Skopje would not have such an impressive portfolio today, if it were not for the company “Biserka”, which was the first to start producing “4M”, one of the best mastika in the region.
We trace the beginnings of “Biserka” back to 1946, when the “Tikvesh” Spirits Factory – Skopje was founded, by decision of the then Government of NRM. It carried this title until 1953 when, by decision of the People’s Board of the City of Skopje, the enterprise was renamed to Enterprise for the production and wholesale and retail trade of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and vinegar “Biserka” – Skopje. Later, in 1962, a merger was carried out with the trading company “Vinar” from Skopje, which was formed in 1948, and with this merger it ceased to exist. In addition to plants for the production of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and a vinegar plant, “Biserka” had warehouses in Belgrade, Zrenjanin, and Bitola. In Skopje, it had its own stores at “Idadija”, in Drachevo, in Gjorce Petrov and in other places, and the products were sold within the entire SFRY. In the 1950s, according to the annual final accounts, the factory for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages “Biserka” from Skopje was considered a large economic enterprise. The headquarters, with all the plants, was located in the settlement of Keramidnica, near the Skopje brewery.
Project for a plant for mastika within the factory complex of Pivara Skopje
The CEOs changed, but the experts, masters and skilled workers remained, whose hands and clear minds created some of the most famous alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages of the time. In the 1970s, “Biserka” and Pivara Skopje merged, with which the overall working and industrial capacity, as well as everything that “Biserka” produced until then, came under the protection of Pivara Skopje.
Pivara Skopje has been working intensively on its plant for mastika, as well as on the preparation of another additional plant. The plant’s plans, design and sales documentation, as well as original folk recipes for making mastika, written by hand, are still preserved in the company’s archives. Unfortunately, the plans were not fully realized and in the eighties of the 20th century, the popular “4M” mastika was withdrawn from the market, remaining only in the memories of a large number of fans, and somewhere an old bottle or label remained to testify to its glorious history of this beautiful drink, for home celebrations, for friendships.
If you also own such a bottle or label, contact Pivara Skopje and the company will know how to thank you. And you will have the opportunity to read about everything that the combined staff of “Biserka” and Pivara Skopje produced in the following period.
The text is adapted and reworked from the original scientific research project of HAEMUS entitled “Study on the history of Parnata Pivara Skopje”, commissioned and supported by Pivara Skopje.
Photo: Archives of Pivara Skopje, private collectors
Archive source: NUB “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Skopje, DARMS – Department Skopje (Archives of the City of Skopje), Archives of Pivara Skopje
