Tepache De Piña Recipes

TEPACHE

Steps:

• Chop pineapple into small segments, including the rind. You can remove the woody core from the segments if you wish. Add to a large container, e.g. a Mason jar with only a flat lid. The container needs to be able to expel the gas that will build up during fermentation, but also needs to be somewhat airtight to prevent the formation of vinegar.
• Crush ginger slightly with the side of a knife to open it up. Add ginger, brown sugar, habanero peppers, cinnamon, and water to the container. Stir to combine, cover, and let stand for 2 days in a warm place until mixture slightly fizzy and warm to the touch.
• Strain mixture through a fine-meshed sieve into fermentation-grade bottles. Cover and store in your refrigerator. Enjoy for up to 1 week. Tepache may continue to carbonate in the bottles while stored and explode if left too long.

PINEAPPLE TEPACHE (WITH VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine the water and piloncillo or brown sugar in a pot or 2-quart mason jar. Stir to dissolve the sugar. If you are using piloncillo, it will take longer to dissolve; stir the water occasionally with a wooden spoon and break the piloncillo up as it softens.
• Cut off the crown from the pineapple and discard. Wash the outside of the pineapple with water.
• Peel your pineapple on a cutting board. Cut a slice off the top of the fruit, another slice off the bottom, and then slice the peel off in strips-or use your favorite method, as long as you end up with a peeled pineapple.
• Place the pieces of peel into the pot. Add the stick of cinnamon.
• Cut the fruit of the pineapple into slices or chunks, reserving the fibrous core. Store the fruit for another use.
• Add the core, whole or in chunks, to the pot and stir.
• Cover the pot with a dish towel, and set it on the kitchen counter at room temperature-it should be easily accessible but also out of the way. The towel will keep out any foreign matter while allowing air to reach the mixture, to ensure a successful fermentation.
• After 24 to 36 hours, check your tepache. If you see a bit of frothy white foam on the surface of the water, it's fermenting. You can drink it as is, or let it continue to brew another day or so. If you do not see any white froth, cover the pot again and check it after another 24 hours; the time necessary for fermentation will vary according to the room temperature, ripeness of the pineapple, and other factors.
• Once your tepache has reached the desired level of fermentation, strain out, and discard all the solids.
• Transfer the liquid to a pitcher and refrigerate.
• Before serving, take a test drink. Add more water or sugar to taste; it's not uncommon to dilute with more water.
• Serve over ice, if desired. Enjoy.

TEPACHE DE PIñA RECIPE

Steps:

• Warm the sugar and 2 cups water in a small saucepan set over high heat. Stir them together until the sugar dissolves fully.
• While the sugar water cools, cut away the pineapple's top and bottom. And then, discard them. Chop the peel, reserving the fruit for another purpose, and place it into a 1 gallon jar. Drop the cinnamon stick and clove into a gallon-sized jar.
• Pour the sugar water over the the pineapple, and then pour in the remaining 6 cups water and the water kefir, if using. Cover the jar, and allow the tepache to ferment for two to three days, or until bubbles and foam form at the surface of the jar. Strain away the pineapple and spices, and then pour the tepache into bottles.
• You can drink the tepache right away, or allow it to ferment in the bottle an addition 1 to 2 days. Serve over ice.