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Many years ago, at my friend’s dacha, I first tried peppercorns. He brought her from somewhere in the south of Russia to treat us. The next morning everyone had a terrible headache. After this incident, I swore off drinking it.
But later I visited distant relatives of my wife and there I was treated to her again. It was inconvenient to refuse, I had to use it. Everything went well, I woke up in the morning in a great mood.
Later, the owner of the house explained to me that the pepper should be prepared correctly and shared the recipe with me. For a long time I did not dare to use it, but when I did, I did not regret it.
So my subscriber Alexander S. began his letter, whose recipes I have repeatedly published. Sasha, tell us more about your tinctures!
What is peppercorn
Pepper is perhaps the most affordable drink for self-preparation. The ingredients for this tincture are not difficult to get, and it is infused very quickly.
However, despite the fact that ordinary vodka can be used for making, I decided to make peppercorns only when I started making my own moonshine.
Pepper is called a tincture made from strong alcohol and hot pepper. Other ingredients may be different, depending on the recipe and the wishes of consumers.
A glass of pepper will help keep you warm in damp, chilly weather, and if you use it before a meal, then the tincture can emphasize the taste of dishes.
Alcohol very quickly draws spiciness out of pepper, but at the same time, due to mixing with other ingredients, pepper is soft and tasty.
Necessary ingredients
There is a classic recipe for peppercorns and several alternative ones. For classic peppercorns, use:
- hot red pepper;
- black peppercorns;
- cloves;
- honey.
To prepare other types of pepper, you can add some specific ingredients to it:
- garlic;
- caraway;
- vanilla;
- balsamic vinegar;
- dill.
As alcohol, it is better to use pure alcohol, not flavored and not aged in barrels or on wood chips. Therefore, I make moonshine for peppercorns from sugar-yeast mash, trying to get the maximum strength during distillation.
How do I make peppercorns
Moonshine for pepper I dilute with water to obtain a fortress of 40% vol. It should not be used immediately after dilution. Better to wait a day. At this time, moonshine should be in a tightly sealed container.
I prefer to cook peppercorns according to the classic recipe. To do this, prepare the ingredients in the following quantity:
- moonshine 40% vol. – 1 liter;
- hot red pepper – 2 pods;
- black pepper – 12 peas;
- carnation – 6 buds;
- honey – 2 tablespoons.
Pepper pods should be thoroughly washed and wiped with a napkin. To speed up the reaction of alcohol with pepper, I make four shallow cuts along each pod with a sharp knife. After that, I place the capsicum in a prepared glass jar.
I lightly crush black pepper and cloves in a mortar so that these components better reveal their aroma and taste in moonshine. Then I send them to the jar to hot pepper.
I first completely dissolve honey in moonshine. Only after that I fill them with the rest of the components. Tightly closing the jar, thoroughly mix the entire composition and place in a warm (room temperature) dark place.
In the first three days, I thoroughly shake the future drink two or three times. On the fourth and fifth days, he should calmly settle down. Five days later, I filter the drink through cheesecloth and a sieve lined with cotton wool. Peppercorn is ready!
How to store the tincture and how best to use it
Store the finished pepper in a dark place at room temperature. The tincture retains its taste properties for three years. After this period, nothing terrible will happen to her, only the aroma of pepper and cloves may not be so pronounced. But if the remnants of such pepper are overtaken again, you get a soft and fragrant moonshine.
You can use peppercorns as an aperitif or just to get a pleasant taste sensation. Despite the fact that there is hot pepper in the composition, honey softens the drink very well, giving it a pleasant taste.
Peppers should be drunk at room temperature. Chilled, it will lose its specific flavor. You can eat it with meat, fish, vegetables and even fruits. But gourmets do not advise drinking peppercorns. And I, contrary to the recommendations, like to drink peppercorns with tomato juice. This is delicious. I hope I’m not the only adherent of this method.
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Take care of yourself!
Have you tried making peppercorns at home? Share with me your tricks, I’m still a beginner “winemaker”.