Contents
When I was offered to try chacha and said that it was moonshine made from grapes, I always frowned and refused.
It seemed to me that it was something completely nasty in taste and completely unacceptable for consumption by a normal person. Everything changed in one moment. But first things first.
This story was sent by my subscriber Angelina Z.
Why do I make chacha
My parents have a large arch with Isabella grapes. After his father was diagnosed with diabetes, he was forbidden to drink grape wine and juice.
There was a problem, what to do with grapes? The question of cutting down the vine was not even considered. I suggested making chacha. The yield of this product is less by volume than wine.
Chacha does not require constant monitoring of storage conditions. And in the summer it was planned to distribute it as souvenirs to visiting relatives.
Initial products
The main product for making chacha is grape wine. Its strength depends on the grape variety and its sugar content. My wine was a strength of 14 degrees. It was made in the traditional way without the addition of water and sugar and was fermented grape juice.
I bought a distiller with a volume of 13 liters, a special nozzle for connecting to a mixer, an alcohol meter, small-diameter hoses for supplying and draining water from a moonshine still.
In addition, I needed funds for filtering and cleaning moonshine. For these purposes, I purchased coconut charcoal in a specialized store. For cleaning, I decided to use medical cotton wool and a regular filter for a coffee machine.
Important! Do not use plastic utensils. If it is near the included stove and gets very hot, it can melt and ignite.
Manufacturing process
You need to start the process of distilling wine material into moonshine by studying the instructions attached to the distiller.
Chacha production steps:
- Preparation for work.
- Connection to a water source.
- Distillation of wine material.
- Cleaning with activated carbon.
- Rough filtering.
- Final cleaning.
Getting Started
I dismantled the moonshine still and washed it well. I have a distiller with a large neck and a thermometer. The wide mouth is very convenient when filling the container.
A thermometer indicates the optimum temperature of the distilled liquid and warns of its overheating. After all the preparatory steps, I put the apparatus on the stove and filled it with 70% wine. Then I screwed the lid on tightly.
Important! It is better to fill the container on the stove, because after filling it, it will be difficult and inconvenient to lift it.
Connection to a water source
To connect to a water source, I used a special adapter that is installed on the mixer. This is very convenient, because it is made according to the principle of a tee. You can simultaneously run water to the distiller and use water for other purposes.
Distillation of wine material
Having installed the device on the stove and connected it to a water source, you must first turn on the water and make sure that it has gone through the entire cycle and started to drain into the sink. The pressure must be adjusted so that the water runs in a small stream. Only after that you can turn on the stove and start the distillation process.
Important! Under no circumstances should the separator be left unattended.
It is very important to monitor the temperature on the thermometer. When the arrow reaches the green field, moonshine begins to drip. The first flowing moonshine is called “Pervach”.
It is very strong, but you can’t drink it, because it contains the maximum concentration of carcinogens and essential oils. I don’t pour it out, but collect it and use it as a kind of ignition for cooking barbecue.
With my loading of a distiller with wine, a little more than a liter of moonshine is obtained. After the first substandard product has drained, I remove the glass container and put a three-liter jar.
Now I carefully monitor the temperature. As soon as it approaches the red field, I turn off the distiller and let it cool down a bit.
Cleaning with activated carbon
In the resulting moonshine, I fall asleep 4 tablespoons of coconut charcoal. The liquid first bubbles a little and turns black. Stir periodically for 4 hours for optimal charcoal performance. After that, I let the distillate stand for a while so that the liquid becomes almost transparent.
Coarse filtering
After the charcoal settles to the bottom, I carefully pour it into another jar through a filter designed for coffee makers. With such cleaning, large particles of coal remain in the filter, but moonshine still has a grayish tint.
Distillate again set aside for a while. As soon as it becomes transparent, and sediment appears at the bottom, I proceed to the next stage of cleaning.
Important! Charcoal water filters cannot be used.
final cleaning
At the last stage of making chacha, I finally clean the moonshine from impurities. To do this, I take a funnel and make a cotton swab. I insert it into the neck along the entire depth and filter the distillate through it. Cleaning is slow, but the result is a crystal clear product.
What can be cooked on the basis of chacha
Chacha in its pure form is difficult for a woman to drink because of the strength of the drink. Therefore, I make ladies’ drinks based on chacha, which also appealed to men.
The most popular drink is cherry liqueur. Its strength is approximately 25 degrees. It turns out very tasty tincture on dogwood. The color of this drink captivates everyone, and its slightly tart taste is simply amazing. You can make a liqueur on a mixture of raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberries.
For my niece, I make coffee liqueur with the addition of yolk and condensed milk. This drink is liked by young people. The fortress turns out to be small, and alcohol is more like a sweet product.
My research in the field of preparing various drinks using chacha did not end there. I’m very interested in what else can be done. One thing I realized for sure is that chacha is delicious.
It can be drunk in its pure form, or used as a component in an alcoholic beverage based on it. And most importantly, it can be used for medicinal purposes. If you make a double distillation of chacha, you get grape alcohol of about 86 degrees. It can be used both internally and externally.