may day mead (sima)
Sima is a type of mead which is bubbly and very refreshing. It's made with lemon and sugar and it's commonly served on May Day. The raisins in the drink are meant to be an indicator of the right fermentation and they can be eaten. It's slightly fermented though mild enough to be served to children in Finland as well. It's commonly eaten with munkki, a kind of doughnut or fritter. Liisa's Doughnuts: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/other-dessert/liisas-instant-doughnuts.html I have also written the recipe in Finnish, here: https://www.kotikokki.net/reseptit/nayta/856848
prep time
15 Min
cook time
23 Hr
method
Stove Top
yield
12 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 2 - lemons
- 325 grams sugar
- 325 grams dark brown sugar or 300 grams of sugar + 25 grams of molasses
- 5 liters water
- 1/3 teaspoon dry yeast or pea sized piece of fresh yeast
- INTO THE BOTTLES:
- - sugar
- - raisins
How To Make may day mead (sima)
-
Step 11. Wash the lemons and use a peeler to pick the yellow zest. 2. Cut and remove the bitter white peel off the lemon and cut the fruit pulp into thin slices. 3. Put the lemon slices and the yellow zest into a bowl of five liters. Add on the sugar. If you want darker or lighter mead then you may change the ratio of the sugars.
-
Step 21. Bring half of the water into a boil and pour it into the bowl. Mix it even until the sugar has dissolved. 2. Add the rest of the water as cold. 3. Add the dry yeast when the liquid is 42°C or the fresh yeast when it's 37°C. 4. Cover the bowl and allow it to have an air hole. Let it ferment for about a day in room temperature.
-
Step 31. Put about one teaspoon of sugar into the clean bottles, along with a few raisins. 2. Mix the mead even. Strain it into a clean, smaller kettle at first and then pour it into the bottles through a funnel. 3. Instead of a cap or cork use pieces of baking paper and a rubber band – this way you won't have to worry about too much pressure forming into the bottles. Put them in a place when there don't tip over easily. The cap may be used when the fermentation has nearly stopped.
-
Step 41. Put the mead into the fridge and let it ferment slowly for a week or faster in the room temperature for three days. 2. The mead is ready to drink when the raisins have surfaced. Serve the mead as cold. It'll keep for about a week in the fridge.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Category:
Other Drinks
Tag:
#For Kids
Diet:
Vegetarian
Diet:
Gluten-Free
Diet:
Vegan
Diet:
Low Fat
Diet:
Dairy Free
Diet:
Low Sodium
Diet:
Wheat Free
Diet:
Soy Free
Keyword:
#lemon
Keyword:
#Fun
Keyword:
#lemonade
Keyword:
#Refreshing
Keyword:
#raisins
Keyword:
#mead
Keyword:
#GOLDEN
Keyword:
#fizzy
Keyword:
#Finnish
Keyword:
#bubbly
Keyword:
#fermented
Keyword:
#May Day
Keyword:
#Mildly Alcoholic
Ingredient:
Fruit
Culture:
Scandinavian
Method:
Stove Top
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