Content
The mulberry tree, or simply mulberry, is an amazing plant that bears sweet and very healthy berries. They help with many ailments of the cardiovascular system and kidney function. The fruits, rich in various vitamins and microelements, are used not only for medical purposes, but also in cooking. Berries are harvested in different forms: jam, jam and compote. Various tinctures and mulberry liqueur are also useful and pleasant to the taste.
The benefits of mulberry liqueur
Mulberries are rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains trace elements such as:
- vitamins A, C, K, E and B;
- beta and alpha carotene;
- niacin;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- sodium;
- magnesium.
The composition also contains other useful substances in the form of carbohydrates, proteins, sugars, organic acids, antioxidants.
As can be seen from the rich composition of mulberry fruits, one can easily say that any mulberry product will also be saturated with useful substances. All sorts of tinctures, including the classic liqueur, are considered especially useful, since during their preparation the berry is not subjected to heat treatment, which means that it retains all the healing properties.
Features of making mulberry liqueur at home
For the preparation of mulberry liqueur, the berry is used fresh, freshly frozen or dried. At the same time, it is a drink made from fresh fruits that will taste better. And even better, if it is a freshly harvested crop, this will preserve a pleasant aroma.
You can use red and black fruits, less often white mulberry is used, because its taste is less bright, and the color of the liquor will be pale.
When preparing the liqueur, special attention is paid to the quality of the berries. It should be ripe, but not overripe. In addition, it is worth monitoring the integrity of the fruit, if at least one spoiled berry comes across, then the finished drink will taste with bitterness.
Any alcohol-containing drinks are suitable for an alcoholic base: vodka, cognac, moonshine, and even diluted medical alcohol.
Homemade mulberry liqueur recipes
The mulberry berry goes well with many foods. Therefore, liqueur can be made according to various recipes. The most common recipe is an alcohol-based tincture. But there are other options for making liquor using other fruits or berries, as well as cream, condensed milk and nuts.
Classic recipe
The liqueur made according to the classic recipe is one of the easiest to prepare. To obtain a full flavorful and aromatic bouquet of such a drink, the use of only fresh fruits and high-quality alcohol is required.
Ingredients:
- red or black mulberry berry - 400 g or 2 full cups;
- cognac - 0.5 l;
- water 1 glass;
- sugar - 400 g;
- spices to taste (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves);
- vanillin.
Sometimes vodka is used instead of brandy, but in this case the liqueur is obtained with a different, less saturated, taste.
Cooking method:
- Peel, rinse and dry the berries.
- Grind the fruits until smooth.
- Separately in a saucepan, mix sugar and water, put on fire and bring to a boil. After boiling, reduce heat and, stirring occasionally, cook the syrup for about 3 minutes.Add spices to taste and vanillin. Then remove from heat and put to cool.
- After the syrup has cooled down, poured berries are poured onto them. Mix well by adding cognac in a thin stream.
- The mixture is poured into a sterilized jar and tightly closed. In this form, the mixture is left for 20 days in a room with a temperature of 15 to 25 degrees. Shake the jar well every 4 days.
- After a 20-day exposure, the finished liquid mixture is filtered through cheesecloth (it is recommended to filter through cotton wool with cheesecloth to remove the dregs). Pour into sterile bottles and close tightly.
The strength of this drink is about 25%. When properly prepared, such a liqueur in a hermetically sealed bottle can be stored for up to 3 years.
Citrus liqueur
The liqueur, prepared with the addition of citrus fruits, has a pleasant and unusual taste. In addition, lemon removes the sugary sweetness of the drink, making it tender with a slight sourness.
Ingredients:
- fruits of black or red mulberry - 500 g;
- cognac (can be replaced with vodka) - 0.5 l;
- sugar 250 g, you can use about 300 g so that the drink does not turn out too sour;
- 1 lemon.
Cooking method:
- Sort out, rinse and dry the berries.
- Mash the finished mulberry with a fork and transfer to a jar. Pour in an alcoholic drink (cognac or vodka).
- Cut the lemon in half, squeeze the juice to the mixture of berries and alcohol.
- Remove the zest from the squeezed lemon (only the top layer of the peel, not reaching the white pulp). You can use a special grater.
- Add the removed zest to the jar to the workpiece. Close the lid tightly and place in a cool, dark place for 2 months. Every 2 weeks the preparation for the future liqueur should be shaken well.
- After 2 months, open the jar and strain the contents through cheesecloth.
- Add pre-cooked sugar syrup to the strained mixture (the syrup is cooked according to the same principle as in the first recipe). Mix well, seal again hermetically and put in a cold place (preferably a cellar) for another 1 month.
- After aging, the liquor is filtered through cotton wool with gauze and bottled.
The strength of the resulting drink is up to 30%.
Condensed milk
The recipe for mulberry condensed milk liqueur is considered the fastest. Time to prepare it takes only half an hour. At the same time, the taste is very delicate, milky and berry.
Ingredients:
- mulberry berry (white and red fruits can be used) - 400 g;
- 1 incomplete can of good condensed milk (300 g);
- vodka - 300 ml;
- water - 150 mm;
- sugar 3 tablespoons.
Cooking method:
- Put the peeled and washed berries in a saucepan. Add sugar and water. Put on fire and bring to a boil. After boiling, reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the cooked mixture from the heat and condemn.
- Strain the cooled mixture through cheesecloth (the berries should be squeezed out so that their juice is completely released).
- Pour condensed milk into the squeezed syrup and beat with a mixer for about a minute. Add vodka and beat again for 30 seconds.
- Pour the milk and berry mixture into a sterilized bottle and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After which the liqueur is ready for use.
The strength of this drink varies from 15 to 20%.
With almonds
No less sophisticated is the recipe for mulberry liqueur with the addition of almonds.
Ingredients:
- mulberry fruits - 450 g;
- vodka or cognac - 400 mm;
- water - 300 mm;
- sugar - 200 g;
- unpeeled almonds - 30 g (one medium handful).
Cooking method:
- Rinse the mulberries and crush them with a spoon, transfer to a jar.
- Add almonds to the berry and pour over the alcoholic drink.
- The mixture is tightly closed and placed in a cool, unlit place for a month. Shake the jar at least once every 7 days.
- After a month's exposure, the jar with the mixture is opened and pre-prepared sugar syrup is added to it (the syrup is prepared by mixing and boiling sugar for 2 minutes together with water).
- The berry-nut mixture with added syrup is again hermetically closed and infused for up to 20 days.
- The finished mulberry liqueur is filtered and bottled.
The fortress turns out to be up to 30%.
Shelf life and storage conditions
The shelf life of classic mulberry liqueur is approximately 3 years, provided that the container is properly prepared and sealed. Store this drink in a cool and dark place; a cellar will be ideal for this purpose.
After opening the bottle, the drink is stored in the refrigerator.
Liquor, which contains condensed milk, is undesirable to store for a long time. It is best to consume this drink immediately after it is ready.
Conclusion
Mulberry liqueur is a pleasant and very healthy drink, which has a small strength and is suitable for the treatment and prevention of colds, as well as for raising the immune system.
