Sima Finnish Spring Mead Recipes

Steps:

• Bring the water to a steady boil.
• Meanwhile, use a zester or vegetable peeler to remove the yellow outer rind from the lemons and place in a large non-metal, heatproof container.
• Peel, or trim, off the white rind and discard.
• Slice the lemons and place in the container with the zest. Add the brown sugar and white sugar.
• When the water boils, add it to the container with the lemons and sugar.
• Let it cool to lukewarm, then stir in the yeast.
• Cover and allow to sit out at room temperature for 24-48 hours, or until surface begins to bubble slightly.
• Strain the liquid into clean containers about 1 quart in size. Add 5-6 raisins and 1 tsp sugar to each container. Seal tightly and refrigerate 2-5 days, or until raisins float to the surface.
• Keep refrigerated and serve cool.

Steps:

• Wash the lemons and peel them thinly. Remove the pith. Slice the lemons and place them with the peel and sugar in a sufficiently large vessel.
• Bring half of the water to the boil and pour it over the lemons, peel, honey or molasses and sugar. Stir and leave to stand covered for a while. Add the rest of the water cold. When the liquid is lukewarm add the yeast.
• Keep the mead at room temperature until it starts to ferment, i.e. about one day. Put a couple of raisins and 1 tsp of sugar into clean bottles, and strain the mead into the bottles. Loosely cork the bottles and store them in a cool place. The mead is ready when the raisins rise to the surface.