Lingonberries can be safely called one of the most valuable gifts of nature. Its berries are rich in a whole complex of vitamins and minerals, so all kinds of products based on it are not only tasty, but also able to improve health.
The most common of them are tincture and liqueur, during the preparation of which alcohol absorbs a unique aroma and all the beneficial properties of the berry. The article discusses the recipes of the most popular lingonberry-based tinctures, and also describes in detail all the conditions for the proper preparation of this lingonberry drink.
Selection and preparation of ingredients
The preparation of any home-made dish begins with a careful selection and preparation of the main ingredients, and alcoholic infusion is no exception in this regard.
Important! Slightly unripe berries are considered the most suitable for alcoholic beverages; overripe berries should be discarded. After interacting with alcohol, overripe flesh can cause clouding of the drink.
The first thing to do while doing this is to carefully sort the berries, since only whole fruits that are devoid of any damage or traces of damage by pests and fungi are considered suitable for cooking.
Next, the selected lingonberry should be thoroughly washed under running water (at least 2-3 times), rid of the stalks, and then dried with a paper or cloth towel. After that, the fruits become fully suitable for any culinary treatments.
Recipes of lingonberry tinctures
The preparation of lingonberry tinctures can be called one of the most technologically simple processes in cooking. Such drinks are prepared independently, thanks to the active interaction between the aggressive alcoholic solution and the beneficial substances found in the pulp and peel of the berries that are easy to dissolve.
However, far from every recipe can be called useful and tasty, therefore only the most successful of them are considered below.
Classic lingonberry tincture
3 L 30 minutes
Nutritional value per 100 g:
Take a three-liter jar and place the fruits of lingonberry in it.
Crush the berries slightly so that some of them let the juice go.
Pour alcohol into the container.
Close the dish with a tight lid and place it in a dark and cool place for 14–20 days. As you insist, the liquid must be shaken well at least once a day.
Strain the infusion through cheesecloth or natural cotton cloth, while the berries must be carefully squeezed.
Put sugar in a separate container, pour 100 g of water into it and bring everything to homogeneity. Add sugar syrup to the infusion, and then bring it to a volume of 3 l and pour into a clean jar.
In order for the alcoholic drink to acquire a brighter taste, it must be closed with a tight lid, and then insisted in the dark and cool for another 2-3 days.
Take a three-liter jar and place the fruits of lingonberry in it.
Crush the berries slightly so that some of them let the juice go.
Pour alcohol into the container.
Close the dish with a tight lid and place it in a dark and cool place for 14–20 days. As you insist, the liquid must be shaken well at least once a day.
Strain the infusion through cheesecloth or natural cotton cloth, while the berries must be carefully squeezed.
Put sugar in a separate container, pour 100 g of water into it and bring everything to homogeneity. Add sugar syrup to the infusion, and then bring it to a volume of 3 l and pour into a clean jar.
In order for the alcoholic drink to acquire a brighter taste, it must be closed with a tight lid, and then insisted in the dark and cool for another 2-3 days.Important! If you replace the purchased vodka with moonshine or a homemade alcohol solution, they must be cleaned. To do this, add activated coconut charcoal to the liquid. KAU-A (20 g / l), stand under a sealed lid for about 5-24 hours, and then strain 2-3 times through a cotton-gauze filter.
Video recipe
Classic lingonberry tincture
Lingonberry tincture on cognac
500 ml30 minutes
Nutritional value per 100 g:
- Place the berries in a glass container with a volume of about 1 liter, and then crush them lightly.
- Pour mashed fruits with brandy, then add honey.
- Close the dish with a tight lid, and then shake it well.
- Place the container in a dark and cool place for 14–20 days.
- Filter the liquid through a cotton-gauze filter, and then pour into a clean bottle. A delicious and healthy infusion is ready.
Did you know? Lingonberry is considered a recognized long-lived plant, the natural biological potential enables the shrub to actively grow and bear fruit for 300 years.
Storage Features
To preserve all the beneficial properties in the resulting tincture, the product needs to create specific storage conditions. A cool and darkened place is best suited for this, so they are stored in a refrigerator, basement or cellar.
This allows you to successfully save the product for 3-4 years. Also, special attention should be paid to storage containers, glass containers with a thick plastic or metal lid are considered the most suitable for this.
For the first time in Russia, lingonberries were cultivated in 1745, until that time the fruits of the plant were harvested exclusively on wild bushes.
Lingonberry tincture is the best way to improve health, as well as the perfect drink for any occasion. This product has a special aroma, and subject to the cooking technology and unique taste. However, alcoholic drinks on the berry are useful only in moderation, so their daily intake should not exceed 40 grams.
