Feijoa in our area it is classified as an exotic fruit. The taste of the berry is reminiscent of kiwi, strawberry and a little pineapple at the same time. From feijoa you can prepare a huge number of the most original dishes. Many people make jam from it, some add it to salads, others add it to baked goods and desserts. But there is another proven way to preserve the taste and freshness of berries for a long time. You can make a wonderful tincture from it. In addition to feijoa, you can add other fresh berries to the drink. For example, this tincture goes well with strawberries or cranberries. But everyone can choose the berries to their taste. In this article we will look at a couple of interesting recipes on how to prepare feijoa tincture.
Feijoa tincture recipe
Feijoa vodka tincture is prepared from the ripest berries. Even slightly overripe fruits will do. The main thing is that they do not have any flaws or damage. Rotten and blackened berries are immediately thrown away. Homemade moonshine (purified), ethyl alcohol (pre-diluted), or regular vodka from the store are suitable as the basis for the drink. It is very important that these drinks do not have a pronounced odor.
First you need to prepare the following components:
- alcohol (alcohol, moonshine or regular vodka) – half a liter;
- fresh feijoa berries 0.3 kilograms;
- strawberries or fresh cranberries (optional) – no more than 100 grams;
- honey or granulated sugar - from 50 to 150 grams;
- clean water (optional) - from 25 to 100 milliliters.
Everyone can choose additional ingredients according to their taste. Please note that cranberries will add a slight pleasant sourness to the drink, and fresh strawberries will slightly enhance the taste of the feijoa itself. It is not recommended to add two types of berries to the tincture at once. In this case, it is better to make several tinctures with different flavors.
Everyone also determines the required amount of granulated sugar and water independently. In this matter, it is better to focus on your own taste and preferences. Most often, sugar is added to the tincture at the third stage, but only half. If necessary, the remaining sugar is dissolved in the drink after the fifth stage (filtration).
The process of preparing feijoa tincture is somewhat reminiscent of making berry wines:
- The berries must be thoroughly washed under running water. Then wipe the fruits dry with a paper towel. After this, the fruits are cut into small pieces without removing the peel.
- Extra berries (strawberries or cranberries) should be crushed into a pulp using a wooden rolling pin. If you make the tincture without berries, then skip this step.
- The resulting berry mass and chopped feijoa are transferred to a clean glass jar. Immediately after this, vodka (it can be replaced with alcohol or moonshine) and granulated sugar are added to the container. Vodka should cover the berry mass by two or three centimeters. All contents are thoroughly mixed.
- The jar is hermetically sealed with a lid and transferred to an unlit room. You can simply cover the container so that the sun's rays do not fall on it.The room temperature should be room temperature. The container must be shaken every day. In this form, the tincture should last for about two or three weeks, but no more. If you overdo it, the taste will become bitter and the color will turn brown.
- The finished drink should be strained through any thick cloth or gauze. Squeeze the berry mass thoroughly. Now you need to taste the tincture and add a little more sugar to it if desired. If the drink turns out to be too strong, then it is diluted with ordinary clean water.
- Next, the tincture is bottled and tightly closed with lids. When adding water or sugar to a drink, you should leave it for another three days to stabilize and only then bottle it. Over time, the tincture may become slightly cloudy. In this case, filtration is carried out using cotton wool. It is recommended to store the drink for a year indoors without direct sunlight.
A simple recipe for feijoa liqueur
Let's consider another recipe for making liqueur from simple ingredients and overseas fruit. Preparing such a drink is as easy as shelling pears, but it will definitely exceed all your expectations. Unlike wines, vodka with the addition of feijoa is prepared very quickly, so be sure to try it. This recipe has been tried by many housewives and received only good reviews.
So, first, let's prepare the necessary ingredients:
- feijoa fruits (even slightly overripe berries will do) – thirty pieces;
- clean water - four glasses;
- vodka - from four to five glasses;
- granulated sugar – 0.25 kilograms;
The drink is prepared as follows:
- The berries are peeled and cut into small cubes.
- Add granulated sugar to the water, place the syrup on the stove and bring it to a boil. The main thing is that the sugar is completely dissolved.
- After this, add chopped berries to the syrup and simmer everything over low heat. The fruit should shrink in volume and the syrup itself should color slightly.
- The resulting mass is poured into clean jars. They should be half or a third full. Set aside the boiled feijoa until it cools completely. Then the jar is filled to the brim with vodka and closed with a lid. The containers need to be shaken every two days.
- I insist on steeping this drink for at least a month, maybe longer.
Conclusion
Making wine has become a common thing for us, which won’t surprise anyone. But not everyone has tried feijoa tincture, and certainly not everyone has prepared it. Therefore, you should definitely try at least one suggested recipe in practice.
