A basic recipe can be obtained from this YouTube video [1]:
- Boil 1.5l water in pot
- Roast [2] two slices of rye bread [3]
- Add roasted bread, a handful of raisins [4] and slices of lemon to
boiling water
- Turn off heat, leave the mixture alone for 3-8 hours
- Filter the mixture to remove bread, raisins and lemon slices
- Add 70-80g sugar
- Add half of a tea spoon of dry yeast [5]
- Add another handful of raisins, optionally more fruit [6]
- Fill clean glass jars and seal them [7]
- Let ferment for two days [8], it's done once raisins steadily float
on a foamy layer of liquid
- Filter the mixture to remove raisins, fruit residue and excess yeast [9]
- Add lemon juice
- Fill clean glass jars and refrigerate them
[1]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1UTJKBMvgc
[2]: The video uses a pan which is ineffective. Better use a toaster if available or an oven.
[3]: This gives greatest taste, but it can be substituted with white/barley bread or even rice.
[4]: Raisins are washed and should not be treated with sulfides, otherwise they'll kill the yeast...
[5]: This should be roughly 1.5g. Equivalent to 1g brewer's yeast and 4.5g fresh yeast.
[6]: Sugary fruit will give the yeast extra nutrition and add extra taste. Jam works as well. The more intensive the fruit taste, the better.
[7]: Vacuum-sealable jars require burping every 24h to avoid breakage. Alternatively rubber seals can be used to allow carbon dioxide to emit while keeping oxygene away. Professionals use an airlock and special fermentation vessels.
[8]: Fermentation time depends on the overall temperature, and yeast/sugar ratio. My apartment reaches up to 30C in summer, with the fastest fermentation taking six hours using ample amounts of yeast and sugar. Normally it takes 12-24h, with longer times resulting in higher alcohol amounts and less taste.
[9]: Cheese cloth is recommended for filtering. Some yeast should be kept for natural carbonation of the drink.
