Kvass is produced through natural bread fermentation, such as wheat, rye, or barley. It is often flavored with nuts, berries, raisins, or early spring birch sap. Homemade kvass uses mainly black or healthy rye bread, typically dried, baked in croutons, or fried, with the addition of sugar or fruit (e.g., apples or raisins) and yeast and zakvaska (kvass fermentation starter).
Modern kvass is typically developed by combining many varieties of malt rye. But barley and wheat malt are also used, giving the resulting drink a somewhat different taste. Such dough was then exposed to mild heat for several hours by positioning the vessel in a Russian cooling fire. Or by covering it with a blanket so that malt enzymes could act on the starches in the flour and breadcrumbs.
Kvass mostly helps us feel more energetic as it contains tons of vitamins, amino acids, microelements, and lactic acids. In the past, almost everyone used to make their own kvass in Russia. Monks, farmers, physicians, noblemen, and even soldiers made this drink often. Any sour drink at the time was called kvass.
Russian Kvass Beverage
- Author: Romae Chanice Marquez
- Recipe Category: Beverage
- Origin: Russian
Kvass used to be brewed with herbs and spices, and often with nuts, berries or honey, and sugar. If people hear the term “kvass” today, they typically think of a drink with a pleasant sour taste and flavor of bread. Bottled kvass can be bought in many supermarkets in Russia.
The whole preparation and process time is at least 12 hours. This recipe is suitable to produce 2 and 1/2 quarts.
Photo credit: @huez84 / Instagram.com
Russian Kvass Beverage Ingredients
- 1/2 pound rye bread, cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 cup organic pure cane sugar
- 1/2 package dry active yeast
- 2 teaspoons unbleached white flour
- filtered water
- 10 raisins
Russian Kvass Beverage Ingredients
Step 1: Place the bread on baking sheets, then bake at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Chop into 1/4″ pieces when finished. Bring 2 quarters of water to a boil, then cool to 175°F. Add the bread and stir well.
Step 2: Cover with a lid and leave for 1 hour in a warm location. Strain and reserve both the bread and the liquid.
Step 3: Boil 1 and 1/4 quarts of water and cool down to 175 degrees, and add the reserved bread.
Step 4: For at least 30 minutes, cover with a lid and leave in a warm place. Strain and disregard the bread. You can now combine both batches of liquid.
Step 5: Place 1/8 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of water in a small skillet and stir over heat until the mixture turns golden brown. Mix it into the entire batch of liquid.
Step 6: In a small container, mix 1/2 cup water and the remaining sugar and bring to boil. Then, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 7: You can now stir the syrup into the reserved liquid. This will allow the mixture to come to room temperature.
Step 8: Combine the yeast with the flour and add 1/2 cup of the liquid. Put the mixture back to the pot.
Step 9: You can now cover the pot with at least three layers of cheesecloth and leave it in the warm place for at least 12 hours.
Step 10: After, let it cool to at least 55°F. Transfer to bottles and seal tightly.
Russian Kvass Beverage Additional Information
- Since kvass is considered a high probiotic food, there are several benefits. These include improving the health of the intestinal tract and strengthening the immune system, which makes the body more responsive to nutrients.
- This drink will take 12 hours to make.
- This recipe will produce 2 and 1/12 quarts of Kvass.
Image source: hayatkolay.com
About Russian Kvass
Most important of all, beet kvass, due to the combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties available, can serve as a natural cancer treatment. Beetroot is also known as a therapeutic treatment for inflammation. This is according to a 2014 study published online at the National Center for Biotechnology Research.
Since beets contain high levels of vitamin C, beet kvass helps to improve your immune system and can help ward off viruses. It’s exceptionally high in manganese, a mineral required to keep your bones, liver, kidneys, and pancreas healthy. Beet kvass also contains vitamin folate B, which may help to minimize birth defect risks.
Conclusion
If is a great, healthy drink to make your yourself or your family. Follow this recipe and you will have delicious Kvass in as little as 12 hours.
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Featured Image: IMG_4283.jpg / Image 1, bread_kvass.jpg / Image 2
