Going to Make My Own Mead

One year ago today I left for Finland for two months. I had an amazing time visiting with family and better learning the language. I have missed Finland a lot lately, so I've decided to try to make myself some Sima! Sima is a traditional Finnish mead beverage made in the Springtime (Usually for Vappu - May Day). It's also one of the first things my grandparents gave me when I arrived in Finland. It is subtly sweet and bubbly and the perfect thing to drink at a terassi. I found a recipe online and thought I'd try it out and share it with you!

Sima - Finnish Spring Mead


The Sima my grandparents made for me last year!

Ingredients:

1 gallon water
2 large lemons
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar plus sugar for bottles
1/4 tsp. yeast
25 raisins

Yield: 4 quarts (about 20 servings)

Preparation:

Bring the water to a steady boil. In the meantime, use a lemon zester or a potato peeler to remove the outer yellow rind of the lemons in strips, placing these in a large glass or plastic (non-metal and heat-proof) container. Peel or trim off the bitter inner white rind of the lemons and discard. Slice the lemons and place in container with the zest, adding brown and white sugar.

Once the water boils, pour it into the container with the lemons and sugar. Let cool to lukewarm, then stir in yeast. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours (and up to 48 hours), or until surface begins to bubble slightly.

Strain the liquid into clean glass bottles, quart jars, or plastic containers.


When the raisins float to the top, you know it's done!

Add 5-6 raisins and 1 tsp. sugar to each bottle. Seal tightly and refrigerate for 2-5 days, or until the raisins float at the top of the bottles.

Keep refrigerated and serve cool.


Enjoy!

I'm going to start this recipe tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it is when it's done!

let us know casue I might have a go, i made some cider a while back and it was just about drinkable

My hubby and me love mead, we used to be able to get it from a local garden centre but they longer sell it, sadly.

I may well have a go at that recipe though. We do make our own Glogg in the Autumn ready for Christmas which is very warming too.

off to google Glogg

Lynne, I was going to try to make cider, but this seemed a lot easier!

Kathy, That's so neat that you make your own Glogg (in Finnish it's Glögi)! We usually buy the premade stuff from IKEA at Christmastime! Maybe I'll try to make my own this year!

Looks tasty. I may have a go as well!

So, I started making the Sima today! It will take a few days to finish, but here are some pictures of the process so far. The ingredients:


The zested and chopped up lemons:


Adding the sugar(s):


Stirring in the boiling water:


Stirring in the yeast to the luke warm mixture:


And now it sits for 24-48 hours before the next step:



I'll update in 24-48 hours! I think it's going well so far, but we'll see how i turns out...

cant wait it looks so easy to make and scrummy as well

This is my kind of cooking

I know, right, Kathy? I am the worst cook, but I'm enjoying this!

Well, I just put it in the bottles in the fridge! I'll let you know how it is in 2-5 days!

looks good

My first batch failed, my aunt told me it's because the fridge was too cold. So I tried again and this time I'm leaving it in a cool, but not cold place. I'm feeling really good about this batch, because it's already bubbling a bit!





Now... We wait!

Thats just teasing, now I'm sat at work wanting a pint

Did you forget your flask for work Janey?
Your not kidding any the customers, they know its not coffee in there >

I couldn't leave it in the fridge like that Cat. I'll wake up in the morning to 2 empty jars and a drunk kid

Finished it Blue, you made me want a pint this morning when we where talking hangovers

CatStina wrote:My first batch failed, my aunt told me it's because the fridge was too cold.

How did you know it failed? What did it look like?

The raisins didn't float, it wasn't bubbly and it tasted like flat lemonade.

Does that mean it's undrinkable, or just that it isn't as good?

It means it didn't become alcoholic. We just added sparkling water to it and drank it any way, but it wasn't booze!

make same moonshine

Once I master the mead, maybe I'll try my hand at some moonshine!

i been watched the tv show i would love to try some just one of my life ticks