How do you make Romania bragă?

Ingredients:

- 4 liters (about 1 gallon) water

- 1 cup malted barley

- 1 cup rye flour

- 1/2 cup honey

- 1 lemon, zested and juiced

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions:

1. Malting the Barley:

- In a large pot, bring 2 liters of water to a boil.

- Once boiling, turn off the heat and add the malted barley.

- Cover the pot and let it stand for about an hour, allowing the barley to steep and release its enzymes.

2. Mixing the Ingredients:

- After an hour, strain the malted barley mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth.

- In a large fermentation container (a food-safe plastic bucket with a lid), combine the strained malted barley liquid with the remaining 2 liters of water, rye flour, honey, lemon zest and juice, cinnamon, and cloves.

- Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.

3. Fermentation Process:

- Cover the fermentation container with its lid or a clean kitchen towel and let it ferment in a warm location for about 2-3 days.

- During fermentation, you should stir the bragă at least once a day to help release any trapped gases and ensure even fermentation.

4. Bottling and Final Fermentation:

- After 2-3 days, the bragă should be slightly bubbly and taste slightly sweet and tangy. It's now ready to be bottled.

- Strain the bragă through a fine sieve or cheesecloth to remove any sediment.

- Bottle the bragă in airtight glass bottles, leaving about an inch of headspace in each bottle to allow for continued fermentation.

5. Secondary Fermentation:

- Leave the bragă bottles at room temperature for an additional 1-2 days to complete the secondary fermentation.

- During this time, the bragă will continue to carbonate naturally, making it slightly fizzy.

6. Refrigeration and Consumption:

- After secondary fermentation, store the bragă bottles in the refrigerator.

- The bragă is now ready to drink! It's best enjoyed chilled and is a refreshing and slightly sweet beverage that's perfect for hot days.

Remember that it's important to maintain cleanliness and hygiene throughout the brewing process to avoid any contamination. Enjoy your homemade Romanian bragă!