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Beverage - May Day Mead

• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/8 cups (about) granulated sugar
• 2 lemons, washed and sliced thinly
• 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon raisins

Heat the water to boiling and stir in the brown and granulated sugars.

Add lemon slices. Cool to lukewarm and transfer liquid to anon-metallic container. Add the yeast and stir (but don't add the yeast until thel iquid has cooled enough, or it won't work. To test, place a few drops on your wrist. If it's not warm or cold, it's just right.

Let this water-sugar-lemon-yeast mixture stand overnight or at least 8 to 10 hours in a warm place. There should be tiny bubbles around the edge of the liquid after this length of time.

Sterilize 8 pints, 4 quart bottles or a gallon jug, and place 1 or 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar per quart of liquid into each container, as well as 3 or 4 raisins. Strain liquid through cheesecloth and pour into containers.

Cork tightly (if you happen to NOT have corks, use a balloon). Let stand at room temperature until the raisins have risen to the top of the bottle. In winter, this may take 2 days or more; in warm weather, only 8 hours.

Chill and store in the refrigerator or a cool place. Makes 1 gallon.

This is only slightly alcoholic, since the brewing time is so short, therefore your alcohol content is very low.

posted by Lilie @ 8:25 AM