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Wine made from currant leaves is no less tasty than a drink made from berries. In the 60s of the last century, the gardener Yarushenkov was the first to create a recipe for homemade wine using the green leaves of fruit bushes and trees. The famous winegrower K.B. Wünsch continued his work and improved the drink. He added alcohol to it, which fixed the wine and stopped fermentation. Since then, the technology has become widespread. Now currant leaves are not thrown away, but are used in the same way as berries.
The benefits and harms of wine made from currant leaves
The benefits of homemade wine from currant leaves are due to the rich vitamin composition of various parts of the bush.
The leaves contain:
- vitamin C is the strongest antioxidant of its kind, which slows down the aging process and increases the body's resistance to many diseases;
- carotene – responsible for skin and eye health;
- phytoncides - help the body weakened after illness to restore strength;
- essential oils – help maintain youthful skin and strengthen hair.
Based on this composition, you can determine the beneficial properties:
- The drink has an antiviral effect on the body. Helps treat spring and autumn colds.
- The product helps to recover from long-term illnesses and tones the body.
- Regular moderate consumption of wine helps treat chronic fatigue and insomnia.
- The drink normalizes the activity of the heart and blood vessels and supports brain activity.
- Homemade wine from currant leaves helps in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system.
- In small doses, the drink helps prevent Alzheimer's disease.
There are no special contraindications, but it is not recommended to take the product in large quantities for people with stomach ulcers, gastritis and thrombophlebitis. Pregnant women should be careful when drinking this drink.
Wine made from currant leaves can cause serious harm to the body only in case of individual intolerance to the components included in its composition.
Ingredients for currant leaf wine
To make homemade wine from currant leaves you will need the following ingredients:
- currant leaves – 80 g;
- water – 7 l;
- sugar – 1.8 kg;
- ammonia – 3 g;
- raisins - a small handful.
Step-by-step recipe for wine from currant leaves
The cooking algorithm is as follows:
- 7 liters of water are brought to a boil, after which currant leaves are added. You can dilute them with a small amount of grape or cherry.
- The leaves are crushed with a rolling pin or other blunt object so that they move from the surface of the water to the bottom.
- After 3-5 minutes, remove the pan from the stove, cover with a lid and wrap tightly in a blanket or blanket. Leave it in this form for 3-4 days.
- Then the resulting wort is poured into another container of the same volume. To begin the fermentation process, add a small handful of raisins to the liquid. Properly prepared wort will have a brownish tint at this point. There should be a slight sourness in its smell.
- Next, 3 g of ammonia is poured into the wort.
- After 2 days, active fermentation will begin, which will continue for another 1-2 weeks. At this time, it is important to ensure a sufficient level of sugar in the liquid - 250 g of sugar per liter of wine.
- The end of active fermentation is determined by the absence of a foam cap on the wine. Then it is poured into 3 liter jars and closed with lids with one petal.
- After this, the wort is regularly checked for sugar. Quiet fermentation can last quite a long time - the completion of the process is determined by the dense sediment at the bottom of the jar. The wine itself becomes transparent. In fact, homemade wine is already ready, but you should not drink it right away - the smell of such a product is very pungent.
- The resulting wine is poured into plastic bottles, along with the sediment. The containers are tightly closed and the amount of carbon dioxide in them is checked every day. It is important not to miss the moment when a sufficient amount of gas has accumulated - to do this, try to slightly twist the lid. If it opens slowly, then you need to carefully release the accumulated gas.
- The last stage of wine preparation is draining the product. The wine is drained 2-3 times. The first time the drink becomes clear. The procedure is carried out using a thin tube. For strength, you can add sugar at this point - 1-2 tbsp. l.The second and third draining is carried out after the wine has lightened again. No need to add sugar.
At this point, making wine at home can be considered complete. The finished product is bottled and stored.
Terms and conditions of storage
Homemade wine made from currant leaves can be stored for an average of 1 year, unless vodka is added to it according to the recipe. Wine with the addition of vodka does not lose its properties for three years.
It is recommended to store the product in a cool, dark place. A refrigerator, basement or cellar is suitable for these purposes. Other food products should be kept as far away as possible so that the wine does not absorb the smell of various pickles and preparations. Even hermetically sealed lids will not protect against this.
Conclusion
Making wine from currant leaves is very simple. This is a tasty and healthy drink that, when consumed in moderation, reduces the risk of developing many diseases.
You can learn more about the features of making homemade wine from currant leaves from the video:
