Braga was first made during the time of Kievan Rus from birch and maple sap. In those days, they did not know about distillation, so people drank it without distillation in its pure form. I suggest making real moonshine. We will consider home brew recipes from sugar, jam and honey, as well as the technological nuances of the moonshine brewing process.
Braga from sugar
It is enough to pour 10 liters of warm water into the fermentation tank, dissolve 3 kg of sugar and add 60 grams of dry or 300 grams of pressed yeast. After 10-12 days, when the wort becomes bitter without sweetness, overtake. Adhering to these proportions at the output, you can get about 3 liters of the finished product with a strength of 40 degrees.
Braga from jam
It is made according to the following recipe: add cold water in a ratio of 1:4 to a vessel with candied or fermented jam, that is, 10 liters of water are needed for 40 liters of jam or marmalade. Next, heat the container over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the mass becomes homogeneous, cool to room temperature.
Then dilute 200 grams of pressed yeast (or 50 grams of dry) in warm water, add to a container with jam and mix thoroughly. You can also add 100 grams of sugar (optional), this contributes to fermentation. After distillation, the output will be 2,5-3 liters of moonshine 40%.
Honey brew recipe
You will need: 3 kg of honey, 25 liters of water, 3 kg of sugar and 300 grams of regular or 60 grams of dry yeast. First, honey, sugar and yeast are dissolved in a fermentation tank with warm water, mixing thoroughly. After 7-10 days of fermentation in a warm place, distillation can begin (if the mash is bitter). The output is up to 6 liters of finished moonshine.
Preparation of mash for moonshine
1. Dilute the yeast. Pour a pack of dry yeast (or any other) into a bowl and pour warm water (up to 30 ° C). If the water is at a higher temperature, there is a risk that the yeast will die. In addition to the basin, you can use any other container.
2. Fill the fermentation tank. First, add sugar, then pour warm water up to half the volume. You need to make sure that the sugar does not settle on the bottom in a thick layer. To do this, the wort must be stirred periodically.
The choice of a suitable tank for mash should be approached responsibly. First of all, its capacity is calculated. Also, the container should not be galvanized. You can use plastic barrels if they are for food. Usually there is a similar inscription on the label.
3. Add yeast. Everything is simple here – pour the yeast diluted in warm water into a fermentation tank and mix well.
4. Get rid of the unpleasant smell in the apartment. To start fermentation, it is enough to tightly close the container with a lid. But in this case, the smell of mash will be felt throughout the room. The solution to the problem is the water seal shown in the figure. The end of the tube can be directed into the water or brought out through the window of the apartment. Here’s an elegant and efficient solution.
5. Monitor fermentation. The optimum fermentation temperature is 26-28°C. If the room is cool, the mash will have to be heated. The easiest way to do this is with aquarium heaters. After 10-12 days, you can start distillation.
As you can see, making brew for moonshine is quite simple. The ingredients can be pure sugar, old jam, honey, or other sugary ingredients. There will be no problems with yeast either, they are sold in almost every grocery store. Dry and the most common pressed yeast are suitable.