Lappish Hag's Love Potion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lappish Hag's Love Potion (lapin eukon lemmenjuoma) is a traditional Finnish alcoholic beverage made from fermented blueberries, but without the addition of yeast. The fermentation is through the wild yeasts (called the bloom) present on the skin of the blueberry.
The drink is also -- more politely -- known as Lappish Grandmother's Love Potion (lapin isoäidin lemmenjuoma), Lappish Mother's Love Potion (lapin äidin lemmenjuoma), or simply Lappish Love Potion (lapin lemmenjuoma).
Traditionally, the drink is made one bottle at a time as the procedure is both time- and labor-intensive. It also requires a certain amount of finesse on the part of the maker, as well as the proper weather (see below). For these reasons, it has never been mass-produced. Some say however, that the one-bottle-at-a-time method is in keeping with the drink's "true" purpose and provides a more intimate and satisfying experience.
Lappish Hag's Love Potion is made by packing fresh, unbruised blueberries into a clear glass bottle up to the top. Sugar is then added, pouring it into the spaces between the blueberries. The bottle is then filled with water. As the sugar dissolves, more sugar and water are slowly added alternately until no more of either will fit.
The bottle is then sealed and placed in a sunny area. The fermentation will take place at room temperature, but it is the sunlight that provides the catalyst to start the fermentation process. The bottle is left to ferment for a month or so, adjusting for how sunny the weather has been. The liquid can then be racked off and enjoyed.
The finished drink is a bright, clear red with a flavor reminiscent of raspberries. Depending on the weather, it can range from fragile to cloying to heavy.
Lappish Hag's Love Potion is also listed as a cocktail in restaurants and bars, however these are usually a concoction of blueberry syrup and a distilled spirit and are nothing like the real one.
