


The fruits that make this drink come from a shrub that grows in the wild and which is more productive in mid-summer. It does well in moist land and in areas that are fertile, those that have rich soils. The fruits are blue and black, and for the best tasting drink, you should prepare them while they are raw. Do not cook them.
The elderberry wine requires that you choose the berries depending on the results you want to get. You can choose to use the fresh fruits or those that are dried. Either way, wash them in fresh water and mash them, with your hands protected. As for the color, remember that it gets better if you ferment and store the drink in a dark place. Here's a recipe...
Ingredients...3 lb elderberries (remove the stalks)
3 lb sugar
l lemon
l lb raisins (could use sultanas)
½ ounce of yeast
Directions...To remove the berries from the stalks, use a fork.
Put berries in a sanitized bucket and pour on gallon of boiling water. Mash the berries against the side of the bucket then put in the raisins. Cover and leave for 3 or 4 days. Strain and tip the liquid back into bucket; add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Squeeze the lemon and add all the juice (to get the most juice from your lemon, cut it in half and put in microwave for 30 seconds). Sprinkle on the yeast. Cover for 3 days, strain again and pour wine into demijohn (an archaic term for bottle to ferment wine )and leave until bubbling completely stops (for about 5 months). Strain and bottle off. The wine could be ready to drink in about 4 months (if too young leave it for much longer). Has a lovely red color.
Directions...To remove the berries from the stalks, use a fork.
Put berries in a sanitized bucket and pour on gallon of boiling water. Mash the berries against the side of the bucket then put in the raisins. Cover and leave for 3 or 4 days. Strain and tip the liquid back into bucket; add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Squeeze the lemon and add all the juice (to get the most juice from your lemon, cut it in half and put in microwave for 30 seconds). Sprinkle on the yeast. Cover for 3 days, strain again and pour wine into demijohn (an archaic term for bottle to ferment wine )and leave until bubbling completely stops (for about 5 months). Strain and bottle off. The wine could be ready to drink in about 4 months (if too young leave it for much longer). Has a lovely red color.
I don't think that I'll be making the wine...just thought it was interesting.
Balisha
7 comments:
I love your woodland garden, and I keep forgetting to tell you how much I love that new header photo.
Balisha, These bushes are actually have very pretty blooms. I've never had wine made from their berries, though. You have choke cherries! We used to pick them and make jam out of the berries. I could kill for some now. I was a young girl in New Mexico helping my grandmother and mother pick them. Yummy jam, have you ever had it? Thanks for stopping by for a visit to my garden stuff.
:-) Sue
I love the cute blossoms on the Elderberry. Wish I had more shade in my yard for this large bush. Thanks for sharing the recipe. :)
Sure does sound good but I think I will go buy some!!! Can't wait that long... LOL
Yes, that IS very interesting....thanks for the info!!
I really didn't know much about these bushes until I checked them out on the internet.
Balisha, I remember going to my grandmothers as a little girl and picking elderberries. I believe then made jelly or jam out of them.MY grandmother lived in southern MO. I didn't know they grew in this part of the country. Learn something new everyday.
Barb
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