Raspberry Sbiten
Description
Sbiten is one of the most common beverages that was once popular in Russia. It was consumed both hot and cold in Moscow taverns. The taste of sbiten is very similar to a honey-based drink. Its ingredients included: ginger, sage, valerian root, St. John's wort, and other herbs. Preparation: Pour water into a saucepan, bring to a boil, then cool slightly. Add raspberry juice and natural honey to the still-hot water. Bring this mixture to a boil and simmer for about two hours, stirring constantly and skimming off the foam. Once ready, cool the resulting drink to room temperature, then add yeast and leave it to ferment for ten to twelve hours. After the allotted time has passed, pour the resulting infusion into a large container (a jug or barrel), seal it tightly, and store it in a cold place for about one month to mature. When the time is up, pour the sbiten into bottles, seal them, and store in a cool place (laying the bottles horizontally). Serve sbiten chilled.