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Self-preparation of a variety of alcoholic drinks is gaining more and more popularity every year. Homemade currant liqueur recipes have a pleasant taste and aroma, as well as a delicious dense consistency. If you follow the correct production technology, such a drink is very easy to prepare at home.
The benefits and harms of blackcurrant liqueur
The use of a variety of homemade tinctures is widespread in folk medicine. It has long been proven that when infused, blackcurrant berries and leaves transfer most of their properties to the drink. Among the most popular important beneficial substances contained in homemade blackcurrant liqueur are:
- Food acids - ascorbic, tartaric, citric, oxalic, acetic and benzoic. They have antibacterial, disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Pectins, antioxidants and natural thickeners.
- B vitamins and large amounts of vitamin C.
- The most useful microelements are iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and iodine.
In combination with other medications, homemade blackcurrant liqueur helps to effectively combat ailments such as vitamin deficiency, anemia, indigestion and fever. By adding currant leaves to a homemade drink, you can get an excellent remedy for normalizing blood pressure and improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
It is worth remembering that if you prepare a homemade blackcurrant tincture that is too strong, you can lose most of the vitamins. In order not to kill all the beneficial substances, experts recommend not exceeding the strength of the finished drink by more than 15%.
How to make currant liqueur at home
To make the perfect homemade liqueur, you need to gather a few simple ingredients - blackcurrants, alcohol base, sugar and water. The final result will depend on their quality. And if everything is simple with the choice of sugar, the preparation of other ingredients should be taken very seriously.
Vodka is traditionally used as the alcoholic base for the recipe. It is best to use a product from a trusted manufacturer. You can also use high-quality cognac or brandy as a base - they will better highlight the taste of the berries. The most experienced craftsmen recommend using double or triple distilled homemade moonshine.
Blackcurrant berries should be as ripe as possible.At the same time, their skin should be intact, without traces of debris and rot. Using unripe berries will not allow the liqueur to acquire the fullness of taste and aroma.
Homemade currant liqueur recipes
Every person who has ever made homemade tinctures has their own time-tested recipe for the ideal drink. In most cases, they differ only in the dosage of berries used and the different alcohol base.
However, there are recipes for truly unique drinks. To get an incredible aroma and the finest taste, you can add various additives to the product - cloves or coffee beans. You can also get an amazing drink by combining black and red currants.
Classic recipe for blackcurrant liqueur with vodka
The classic version of the recipe for homemade blackcurrant liqueur with vodka allows you to fully convey the taste of the berries. It will have a persistent berry aroma and an excellent viscous consistency. For the recipe you will need:
- 1 kg black currants;
- 1.5 liters of vodka;
- 1 kg sugar;
- 750 ml of clean water;
- a few blackcurrant leaves.
Mash the berries in a bowl until they become a paste, add leaves to them and mix with vodka. The mass is poured into a 3 liter jar, tightly covered with a lid and sent to infuse in a dark room for a month and a half. After this, the liquid is filtered, removing the berry pulp.
Now the homemade infusion must be mixed with sugar syrup. To prepare it, sugar is mixed with water and boiled for about 10-15 minutes, then cooled to room temperature. The syrup is mixed with alcohol until smooth. The finished liqueur is bottled and sent to mature for another 7-10 days.
Homemade currant liqueur with brandy
Cognac tinctures are more noble and aromatic. Some people believe that brandy brings out the flavor of blackcurrants better. For the recipe you will need:
- 250 g black currants;
- 500 ml brandy;
- 200-250 ml of sugar syrup.
The berries are ground in a blender and mixed with brandy. The mixture should be infused for a week, after which it is filtered and mixed with sugar syrup. Sugar syrup is prepared by boiling sugar in water for 10 minutes in a ratio of 4:3. The finished homemade liqueur is bottled and left to steep for another couple of weeks.
Currant liqueur with vodka and cloves
Using cloves in this recipe allows you to get an unusual aroma from the finished homemade liqueur. In addition to the wonderful smell, cloves add a slight tartness and subtle piquancy. For the recipe you will need:
- 1 kg black currants;
- 1 liter of vodka;
- 400 g sugar;
- 4 buds of cloves.
The berries are thoroughly washed, dried and crushed into porridge. Vodka and clove buds are added to them. The mass is thoroughly mixed, then poured into a large jar, covered with several layers of gauze and sent to the windowsill for a month and a half.
After this period, the tincture is carefully filtered. Then sugar is added to it, stirred until completely dissolved and bottled. The bottles are tightly corked and sent to a dark place for a couple of weeks. To make homemade liqueur ready faster, it is recommended to shake the bottles every 2-3 days.
Black and red currant liqueur
Combining black and red currants allows you to get a great berry taste. Red currants will add bright sourness and a slight tartness to the taste. For the recipe you will need:
- 500 g black currants;
- 250 g red currants;
- 1.5 liters of vodka;
- 500 g brown sugar;
- 250 ml water.
The berries are mixed and crushed in a blender to a paste. Vodka is poured into them and mixed until smooth. This mixture is poured into a jar, covered with a plastic bag and left on the windowsill for a day. Then the jar is tightly closed with a nylon lid and placed in the refrigerator for 10 days.
After the berry mixture has infused, it is filtered and the prepared sugar syrup is added to it. The liqueur is thoroughly mixed and bottled. The recipe involves sending it to ripen for another week in a cool, dark place.
Blackcurrant liqueur with coffee beans
The combination of ingredients in the recipe may seem strange, but the taste of the finished homemade liqueur is incredible. Instant coffee adds great flavor. To make the liqueur perfect, it is better to take high-quality, expensive coffee. For the recipe you will need:
- 1 kg black currants;
- 1 liter of vodka;
- 800 g sugar;
- 500 ml water;
- 3 tbsp. l. instant coffee.
First you need to infuse the berries with an alcoholic base. They are ground in a blender, filled with vodka and sent to a dark place for a couple of weeks. After this time, the vodka is filtered, getting rid of the berry cake.
The most important part of this recipe is making the coffee sugar syrup. Add 3 tbsp to boiling syrup. l. instant coffee, mix well and remove from heat. The cooled syrup is mixed with vodka and bottled. After a week of infusion, the homemade liqueur is ready for use.
Contraindications
Like any other alcoholic drink, liqueur can negatively affect a person’s general condition.Most often this occurs in case of excessive consumption of the drink. Also, alcohol in any form is contraindicated for pregnant women and minor children.
A serious contraindication for drinking this drink is glaucoma. The alcohol contained in the tincture dilates blood vessels, thereby increasing blood circulation in the eye area. Along with additional blood, nutrients begin to flow into the organ, accelerating the development of this disease.
Like any other alcohol, homemade liquor promotes inflammation in chronic ulcers and gastritis. Regular consumption of this drink increases the likelihood of open bleeding and erosion. Even with mild forms of the disease, you should refrain from drinking such a drink as much as possible.
Terms and conditions of storage
Despite the rather lengthy preparation process, the shelf life of homemade blackcurrant liqueur leaves much to be desired. It is believed that it is best to consume it within the first 2-3 months from the moment of preparation. After 3 months, the berry smell almost completely evaporates, leaving only sweetness.
If a person values taste in drinks without reference to aroma, then homemade alcohol with a high sugar content can be stored for up to one year. The best place to store such a drink is a dark room or a kitchen cabinet. The main thing is that the drink should not be exposed to direct sunlight, and the bottle cap should always be tightly closed.
Conclusion
Homemade currant liqueur recipes are gaining more and more popularity every year among people who make their own alcoholic beverages. The incredible aroma of berries and pleasant sweetness allow it to occupy a significant place among other berry liqueurs. By adding additional ingredients, you can get a great finished product.
