Kvas (#1 Ukrainian drink)
Very traditional Slavic drink that is usually served at every gathering. What kind of party will that be without Kvas?- that’s how Slavic people react when they don’t find kvas on the table. This drink has a similar flavor as a sweet non-alcoholic beer and can get stronger with each day resting in the refrigerator. Such a refreshing drink that everyone loves. This recipe doesn’t take much time to prepare it, it’s super easy to make and I am assuring you it’s very delicious.
I simply love kvas!!! There is a restaurant in Lviv, Ukraine called Kumpel, where they produce their own kvas and the taste of it is outstanding. I visit that place each time when I visit Lviv just to enjoy a big cup of their refreshing branded drink:) I found that my recipe has a very similar taste, which is amazing 😉.
I was planning to post this recipe way earlier, but it was so hard to catch a bottle of kvas because it’s always gone too fast.
Please note, if you feel that this is a big portion for your family, you can just use half of the ingredients and make half portion.
Ingredients:
11 liters of warm water
1 gallon of 100% apple juice from concentrate (I use Tree Top)
3-3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 tbsp instant coffee (I like Nescafé)
12 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp active dry yeast , freshly bought
The main thing about this drink is water temperature. Make sure the water is not cold, because dry yeast would not activate and your kvas would not taste like kvas at all. Make sure water is not hot also, because hot water kills the yeast.
Day 1.
Add all ingredients one by one, except the dry yeast. Mix everything well and only after you see that all ingredients have completely dissolved- sprinkle dry yeast on the top and don’t mix it any more. Let it sit overnight (for about 15 hours)
Tip: the more it will allow fermenting, the stronger your kvas will be.
Day 2.
Using a spoon, carefully scoop the krausen (fermentation foam) and pour the kvas in storage containers (plastic bottles work great as well). Cover the containers with caps, but do not close all the way, because the caps might pop up. Let it sit in the refrigerator for about an hour with halfway open and after that you can close the caps all the way.
Personally my family likes the taste of kvas on the next day, after spreading into bottles. But it’s up to you. You can try serving it the same day after pouring into bottles or the next day like I do.
Day 3.
Transfer into your favorite pitcher and serve cold. You can store Kvas in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days, but just keep in mind, that with each day, it will get stronger and less sweet.
Please note, after few days, it can become an alcoholic drink, so be careful with that:)
Enjoy ❣️
