Content
- 1 Is there pomegranate wine?
- 2 What are the benefits of pomegranate wine?
- 3 How to make wine from pomegranate juice
- 4 Homemade pomegranate wine recipes
- 5 What do you drink pomegranate wine with?
- 6 What to eat with pomegranate wine
- 7 How does pomegranate wine affect blood pressure?
- 8 Calorie content of pomegranate wine
- 9 Contraindications to pomegranate wine
- 10 Terms and conditions of storage
- 11 Conclusion
Modern winemaking has gone far beyond the grape drinks familiar to every person. Pomegranate, plum and even peach wine are produced in industrial quantities. Technologies for the production of homemade fruit wines are also developing every year, delighting winemakers.
Is there pomegranate wine?
The first factory-quality pomegranate wine was prepared about 30 years ago in one of the provinces of Israel. After some time, the largest suppliers of this fruit - Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia - took up the baton. The development of this area of winemaking has aroused interest among lovers of making homemade alcohol, so now you can find a large number of recipes for the production of pomegranate wine, aimed at home conditions.
The main disadvantage in the production of such a drink is the high acidity of the fruit. In order for the wine to ferment properly, water and a fairly large amount of sugar are added to the grape juice. Almost every bottle in the store is produced using a similar technology. At home, winemakers use wine yeast to speed up the fermentation of pomegranate wine.
What are the benefits of pomegranate wine?
Thanks to the production technology, the wine retains the beneficial properties of pomegranate juice. Drinking pomegranate wine in moderation can completely minimize the harm of alcohol and also bring great benefits to the body. The main beneficial properties of this drink include:
- strengthening the cardiovascular system;
- improvement of the general condition of the nervous system;
- slowing down the aging of the body;
- powerful antioxidant effect;
- cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of toxins and waste.
Wine improves immunity due to the content of linolenic acid, which also helps regulate fat metabolism and inhibit the formation of carcinogens in body tissues. The benefits of pomegranate wine are also explained by the high percentage of vitamins B6, B12, C and P, which strengthen the body and help it better fight viruses and infections.
Pomegranate wine can be especially beneficial for women. It helps normalize hormonal levels and, as a result, reduces mood swings during menstrual cycles. Also, drinking this drink during menstruation helps reduce pain.
How to make wine from pomegranate juice
The main component of any wine is the juice squeezed from the fruit.To obtain high-quality pomegranate juice that meets winemaking standards, you need to responsibly select quality fruits. It is advisable to choose pomegranates that are as ripe as possible and that have not become moldy.
The correct fruit has a smooth peel and does not contain any traces of mechanical damage. The grains must be fully ripe. It is believed that the sweeter the fruit, the better the final product can be obtained when making wine.
There are two methods of fermenting wine - using yeast and natural fermentation. Both methods have a right to life, since each of them is used to make drinks from raw materials of different acidity.
How to make pomegranate wine without yeast
The technology for making wine from pomegranate juice without using yeast at home involves adding a small portion of starter to the juice. Unlike grapes, on the surface of which wild yeast lives, pomegranate seeds are reliably protected from the surrounding air by a dense crust.
The standard starter for making this wine is raisins soaked in warm water for several days. The standard ratio is 100 g of dry red raisins per 100 ml of water. To speed up the production of sourdough, add a couple of tablespoons of sugar to a glass of raisins. It is believed that 3-4 days are enough for wild yeast from raisins to become active.
Pomegranate juice, sugar, water and starter are mixed in a fermentation container.After this, the tank is covered with a lid and a water seal is installed. After fermentation is complete, the wine is filtered and poured into barrels for further infusion.
How to make pomegranate wine with yeast
Factory wine yeast is good because it is able to digest all the sugar contained in the juice into alcohol. However, an additive in the form of sugar is still used to speed up fermentation. Water is also added to level out the acid balance of the finished drink.
In general terms, this technology for preparing wine, except for yeast, is no different from the previous version. The ingredients are also mixed in a large vat, and then placed under a water seal until complete fermentation. In fact, using wine yeast to make pomegranate wine can significantly increase the strength of the drink.
Homemade pomegranate wine recipes
To make a good drink you need the right raw materials. Pomegranates can be grown yourself or purchased at your local supermarket. The main thing is that they are all quite ripe and sweet.
There are a large number of recipes for pomegranate wine at home - with the addition of raisins, citrus fruits or cereals. Each person involved in home winemaking has his own special way of preparing this drink, which he considers correct. A novice winemaker can easily choose the recipe he likes; he just needs to strictly follow the instructions.
Classic recipe for homemade pomegranate wine
Preparing wine using traditional winemaking technology allows you to obtain a product with a pure taste and an indescribable fruity aroma. To prepare you will need:
- 2 liters of pomegranate juice;
- 600 g sugar;
- 50 ml water;
- wine yeast.
Juice is obtained in any convenient way. Sugar, water and wine yeast diluted according to the instructions are added to it. All ingredients are mixed well in a fermentation container. Then cover the container with a lid and install a water seal. The readiness of the wine is determined by the absence of traces of fermentation. After this, the finished product is filtered, bottled and sent for storage.
Delicious pomegranate wine with raisins
Raisins are used as an ingredient necessary for sourdough. In addition, fermenting the drink with such a starter contributes to the light carbonation of the drink. To make wine you will need:
- 5 kg of pomegranates;
- 350 g of sugar per 1 liter of juice;
- 30 ml of water per 1 liter of juice;
- 50 g red raisins;
- 25 ml of raisin starter per 1 liter of juice.
The fruits are peeled and white films between the grains removed. Juice is squeezed out of the grains using any method. The resulting juice is poured into a fermentation container, sugar, water, raisins and starter are added to it. All ingredients are mixed to maximize the divergence of the starter, after which the container is covered with a lid and placed under a water seal. The finished wort is sent to ferment in a warm room with a temperature of 20-25 degrees.
When the wine stops showing signs of fermentation, it will need to be filtered through cheesecloth. The filtered wine is poured into a barrel or other container. After 3 months, the drink is filtered again and finally bottled.
Homemade pomegranate wine with barley
The recipe was invented in the USA at the end of the twentieth century. Barley balances the taste of wine and makes it lighter and whiter. A prerequisite is maximum ripeness of the selected pomegranates. To prepare you will need:
- 15 ripe pomegranates;
- 1.5 kg sugar;
- 200 g barley;
- 4 liters of water;
- wine yeast.
Boil barley in 2 liters of water for 2 hours. Then the broth is filtered and the barley is discarded. Barley broth is mixed with pomegranate juice, water, sugar and wine yeast diluted according to instructions. The container with the wort is covered with a water seal and sent for fermentation.
After fermentation is complete, the wort is filtered and poured into a barrel for further aging. The finished product is bottled, tightly corked and sent for further storage.
Red pomegranate wine with citruses
Another recipe comes from America. A distinctive feature of the finished product is the original citrus aroma and light sourness. For this drink you will need:
- 20 large pomegranate fruits;
- zest of 4 lemons;
- 4 oranges;
- 7.5 liters of water;
- 2.5 kg of sugar;
- wine yeast.
Remove the zest from citrus fruits. Juice is squeezed out of oranges and pomegranates and mixed in a fermentation container. Water, sugar and removed zest are added to it. Wine yeast is diluted according to the instructions on the manufacturer's packaging. The container is placed under a water seal and sent to a warm place for fermentation.
After fermentation is complete, pomegranate wine must be carefully filtered. For this, gauze rolled up in several layers is used. The finished wine is poured into a barrel and sent for 3 months to mature.
What do you drink pomegranate wine with?
Traditionally, before serving, homemade pomegranate wine must be cooled to 12-14 degrees. Since the drink is not too sugary, cooling helps it retain its sourness and leave a long, pleasant aftertaste in the mouth. If you serve the wine warm, then to most people it will resemble compote.
Since the wine is light and sweet, it is best enjoyed with desserts. The best options would be traditional Armenian, Turkish and Azerbaijani sweets - baklava or lokum. Drinking wine with such dishes allows you to fully reveal its notes, as well as immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a country where pomegranate wine is the national calling card.
What to eat with pomegranate wine
In addition to sweets, pomegranate wine goes well with unsweetened fruits - apples, cherries or pears. It is also common to drink this drink with citrus fruits - orange and grapefruit.
How does pomegranate wine affect blood pressure?
It is traditionally believed that pomegranate juice is an excellent aid in the fight against high blood pressure. Drinking a small glass of homemade pomegranate juice wine during a hypertensive crisis helps reduce blood pressure by 10-15 units. This method of reducing pressure works effectively with slightly elevated blood pressure.
Experts agree that regularly drinking a small amount of pomegranate juice wine can save a person from vascular diseases in later life. Another beneficial property of pomegranate wine is that it reduces the frequency of vascular spasms, thereby keeping blood pressure within normal limits.
Calorie content of pomegranate wine
Like any other alcohol, pomegranate wine is considered a fairly high-calorie drink.The average calorie content of 100 ml is up to 88 kcal or 367 kJ. The average nutritional value per 100g is as follows:
- proteins - 0 g;
- fats - 0 g;
- carbohydrates - 5 g;
Depending on the recipe, the nutrient content may vary. So, when using barley decoction, cereals release protein. When adding citrus fruits or increasing the amount of sugar, the level of carbohydrates increases slightly.
Contraindications to pomegranate wine
The main contraindication to drinking this drink is low blood pressure. Since the substances contained in wine actively lower blood pressure, it is highly not recommended for people prone to hypotension. A glass of pomegranate wine during a hypotonic crisis can cause death.
People prone to allergic reactions should also refrain from using it. Pomegranate is a strong allergen that can cause asthma attacks and redness of the skin. In extreme cases, redness of the eyes may occur, accompanied by severe itching.
Terms and conditions of storage
Since the technology for home production of wine from pomegranate juice has not yet been fully developed and perfected, the shelf life of the finished product is noticeably inferior to grape wine. It is believed that such a drink can be stored for up to 2 years if the correct storage conditions are observed. Like any fruit wine, a pomegranate drink is recommended to be consumed as soon as possible from the moment it is ready.
To preserve product characteristics for as long as possible, the right premises are necessary. A cool cellar with a temperature of 12-14 degrees is best for storing wine.If it is impossible to organize the correct storage conditions, you can keep the bottles in kitchen cabinets, but their shelf life will be reduced to a maximum of six months.
Conclusion
Pomegranate wine is gaining popularity every year. Despite the fact that it is far from the success of traditional grape wine, its benefits and unique taste promise great prospects. Prepared according to the correct recipe, it will not leave any gourmet indifferent.
