Medlar (Japanese plum) is a shrub of the subfamily of the Apple family Pink. In Russia, it grows on the Black Sea coast and in the Krasnodar Territory. This is the only fruit plant in the subtropics that blooms in autumn and ripens in the winter-spring period. To taste, medlar is a mixture of apple, apricot and peach with a slight sourness. The medlar tincture is obtained with the same flavor and aroma profile with a predominance of apple notes. A good option for dessert alcohol.
Medlar is exported by Abkhazia, Georgia, Israel, Turkey, Italy, Spain and Algeria. The season starts in April and May. You can find fruit even in Moscow, but it is supplied in small batches due to poor tolerance of transportation and storage.
For cooking, a ripe medlar without rot, mold and blackened parts is required. If necessary, problem areas should be cut from the fruit. The more fragrant the medlar, the better. Store-bought vodka, well-purified moonshine of double distillation (preferably fruit or sugar) and ethyl alcohol diluted to 40-45% are suitable as an alcohol base.
Loquat tincture recipe
Ingredients:
- medlar – 0,5 kg;
- vodka (moonshine, alcohol) – 1 l;
- sugar – 70-100 g (to taste);
- cloves – 1 bud (optional).
The amount of sugar added depends on the sugar content of the fruit and the desired sweetness of the tincture. At the initial stage, you can add 50 g, and then sweeten to taste after insisting. Cloves add a light spicy note to the drink.
Technology of preparation
1. Wash the medlar and put it in a container for infusion. Do not cut or remove the stones, otherwise the tincture will be cloudy and difficult to filter.
2. Add sugar and cloves. Pour in the alcohol base (vodka, alcohol or moonshine). Stir until sugar dissolves.
3. Seal tightly. Leave in a dark place at room temperature for 20 days, shake every 3-4 days.
4. Strain the finished medlar tincture through gauze or a kitchen strainer. Taste and sweeten with sugar if desired.
5. Bottle for storage. Close hermetically. Leave in the refrigerator or cellar for 2-3 days to stabilize the taste.
The shelf life of homemade medlar tincture away from direct sunlight is up to 3 years. Fortress – 24-28% vol.
