“Old, Honest Kümmel”: an original caraway tincture for true gourmets. The Kummel family and their relatives The use of caraway tincture in medical therapy

A slightly bitter drink based on caraway seeds is called Kümmel, and it has become one of the popular drinks in several European countries. A drink based on cumin was created in Russia by Peter I, because he liked the unusual taste so much.

You can make this drink yourself - just take cumin. Vodka based on caraway seeds will appeal to any connoisseur of high-proof alcohol.

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A simple recipe for alcohol

Ingredients:

  • Sugar – 2 teaspoons;
  • Cumin – 2 teaspoons;
  • Alcohol – 0.2-0.25 liters;
  • Water - from 0.4 to 0.45 liters.

How to cook:

  1. Mix sugar and cumin together, and then add water;
  2. Boil the mixture with constant stirring (20 minutes);
  3. Cool and strain the drink. Will receive about 300 milliliters of liquid. If less, you can add boiled cool water;
  4. Mix the liquid with alcohol and pour into the bottle;
  5. The bottle should be placed in a dark place for 1-2 months. You can leave it for a longer period of time, this will only make the drink tastier.


Ingredients:

  • 40-50 grams of cumin;
  • 1 liter of vodka;
  • Honey and sugar (the amount is determined only by personal preference and taste).

How to cook:

  1. You need to prepare a container and put chopped cumin in it, and then fill it with water;
  2. After this, it is important to cover the container with a lid and leave to infuse for 5-7 weeks;
  3. Then you need to add sweets to the drink according to your personal taste and preferences. In this case, honey and sugar need to be dissolved in a small amount of vodka, and only then added to the container with the liquid;
  4. You can also use syrup to make the drink sweeter;
  5. All components must be mixed and left for 2 weeks in a cool place.

How to make syrup:

  1. Pour sand into a container with clean water in a ratio of 1:6 to glasses. The proportions may be slightly different depending on preference, but the difference is not significant;
  2. Bring the liquid until all the sugar is completely dissolved, and then cook it for another 7 minutes, periodically getting rid of the foam;
  3. After preparation, the syrup should be cooled and then poured into the prepared solution.

This tincture has a slight herbaceous aftertaste.

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 liters of vodka;
  • Anise – 40 grams;
  • Cumin – 50 grams;
  • Dill – 25 grams;
  • Violet roots – 20 grams;
  • Lemon peel – 30 grams.

How to cook:

All the components listed above must be crushed and mixed with vodka, and then let this composition brew. It will take 2-4 weeks. It is best to choose a warm and dark place. Then you should mix the drink and syrup with each other, and then stir. Then another day of infusion. After this, you need to strain the alcohol using a fine sieve and leave the solution for another 14 days. If necessary, you can keep the drink for 10-12 days.


Ingredients:

  • Vodka – 1 or 2 liters;
  • Cumin – 50 grams;
  • Calamus, coriander and fennel – 25 grams;
  • Melissa – 45 grams;
  • Mint – 35 grams;
  • Dill (seeds) – 15 grams;

Dry ingredients need to be crushed and poured with vodka. Then you need to leave the drink to infuse for 20 days in a dark, warm place. After this, you need to filter the drink and, if necessary. Add syrup.


Ingredients:

  • Vodka – 2 liters;
  • Star anise and cumin – 50 grams;
  • Fennel – 20 grams;
  • Dill seeds – 10 grams.

All of the listed components need to be poured with vodka and the solution allowed to brew. This takes 15 days. After this, the drink needs to be filtered and syrup added to taste.

This recipe is the simplest and fastest, as it does not require infusion, so the drink can be drunk immediately after preparation.

Ingredients:

  • Vodka – 1.5 liters;
  • Cumin – 4 teaspoons;
  • Cloves - 3 pieces.

You need to pour all the vodka into the pan, and then add various types of spices. Next, you need to heat the solution to 70 degrees, and then cool it to room temperature and strain. After the solution has cooled, you can safely consume the tincture and enjoy its taste.

Caraway vodka can be made from caraway water prepared in a certain way.

Ingredients:

  • Water – 1 liter;
  • Cumin – 450 grams.

The spice needs to be poured with water, and then driven through a distillation apparatus. Or, alternatively, the mixture can be boiled for an hour and left to steep under the lid. If necessary, you need to sweeten the liquid and add it to the vodka.

This is a very unusual recipe for a drink, which is based on black or classic, ordinary cumin. Ingredients:

  • Mint and white ginger – 25 grams;
  • Cumin – 50 grams;
  • Cinnamon – 10 grams;
  • Cream of tartar – 15 grams.

The components need to be crushed and filled with vodka. Next, it is important to leave the solution to infuse for 14 days. After this, the tincture must be distilled in a cube or strained.

When creating and preparing vodka, you can use many additional means and components that can give this drink a reddish or other shades. In order to prepare the drink, it is recommended to use purification by running the drink through a distillery or moonshine brewer.

Caraway tincture for treatment

Tincture using caraway seeds is a unique treat on the table, which is quite effective if you need to restore health and immunity.

  • The drink is used as a medicinal drink to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and heart;
  • Increases and significantly improves breathing activity;
  • It is choleretic, as well as diuretic and antibactericidal;
  • For those who suffer from acne, a unique caraway tincture is suitable. In order to make it, you need to take a glass of alcohol and half a glass of caraway seeds. This tincture is infused for a week, and after that, strain it and add half a glass of mineral water.
  • The tincture helps defeat many infections, including sore throat. You need to take 3 tablespoons of cumin (black cumin is best suited for this), 1 liter of boiling water, and let the composition brew (3 hours). The resulting solution can be diluted with water, tea or other drinks. This composition is used as a rinse.

These and other recipes show that cumin is a healing health component, on the basis of which it is possible to create both medicines and tinctures that help improve health and immunity levels.

Main brand of kumel

The origins of this ancient liqueur are unclear. Only one thing can be said for sure: he comes from Northern Europe. Most likely, it was invented by the Dutch, but the Germans also put forward their claims to it with sufficient convincing (its name is German). It appears to have been made in the 1500s as it is consistent with the type of drink of the time.

The flavoring in this case is caraway seeds. Some confusion is caused by the name of the liqueur: it seems as if it has something to do with the spicier cumin plant, close to coriander. This happens because in some European languages ​​cumin is often called caraway. However, the only thing these plants have in common is that their seeds are similar.

The most important event in the history of the kumel happened at the end of the 17th century. during Peter I's stay in Holland. He became so addicted to this drink that he took its recipe to Russia, and kumel began to be considered a Russian drink (at least a Baltic one). Throughout the 19th century. the center of its production was Riga. It was partially produced in Danzig (Gdansk), where over time they came up with the idea of ​​adding grains of gold to the drink - this is how “golden water” appeared.

Today, various varieties of kumel are made not only in Latvia, but also in Poland, Germany, Holland, Denmark and even in the USA.

Flavors

Cumin seeds.

How they do it

The basis of kumel is pure grain distillate, on which caraway seeds are infused. Most varieties are colorless and quite sweet.

How to mix

« Comrade"(Tovarich): Mix 1.5 teaspoons of vodka, 1 teaspoon of koumel and the juice of half a lime in a shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

How to serve

In its countries of origin, kumel is almost always served with ice.

How to use

Try adding this liqueur to a real English muffin, which is always prepared with cumin.

A bitter drink infused with caraway seeds called Kümmel? very popular in European countries. In Russia, the production of caraway tincture was established by Peter I, who really liked the unusual taste of the drink, which became the favorite alcoholic delicacy of the nobility.

You can prepare this delicious drink yourself. Spicy seeds of black or common cumin are used to make homemade vodka, which makes the taste of the strong drink soft and refreshing. Caraway vodka will appeal not only to true connoisseurs of original treats, but also to all lovers of high-proof alcohol. The recipe is accessible to everyone, the physical and material costs are minimal, and the result will exceed all expectations.

Cumin tincture recipes

There are various options for preparing tinctures from regular or black cumin. After looking through all the methods, you can choose the most suitable one. The main criterion for a tasty, unusual liqueur is long aging.

Recipe? 1

What ingredients are needed:

  • cumin 2 tsp
  • sugar 2 tsp
  • alcohol 200─250 ml
  • water 400─450 ml.

Mix black cumin seeds and sugar, add water. Boil this mixture for at least 20 minutes, stirring. Then cool the resulting drink and strain well. There should be about 250-300 ml of liquid; if the amount is less, add chilled boiled water to the required volume. Mix everything with alcohol and pour into a bottle. Place the tightly sealed bottle for a month or two in a place protected from direct sunlight. The longer it sits, the tastier it will be to eat.

Recipe? 2

Necessary components for preparation:

  • 40─50 g cumin
  • vodka 1 l
  • sugar or honey to taste.

Finely ground spicy seeds are placed in the prepared container and filled with vodka. Cover tightly with a lid and leave to infuse for 5-7 weeks. Afterwards, sweetness is added to the well-strained drink to taste. First, dissolve sugar and honey separately in a small amount of vodka, only then add to the prepared alcohol. You can use sugar syrup for sweetness. After stirring well, leave in a cool place for another one or two weeks.

Sugar syrup is prepared as follows: granulated sugar is poured into a bowl with clean water. At the rate of 5-6 glasses of sugar per glass of water, the proportions are selected individually. Bring the sugar to complete dissolution, and after boiling, cook for 7 minutes, removing the foam. The finished syrup should be cooled, then poured into the drink.

Recipe? 3

This caraway tincture has a taste and smell with a delicate herbal undertone; in addition to black or simple cumin, other spices are used. What you need to prepare the drink:

  • 2─3 l vodka
  • anise 40 gr
  • cumin 45─50 g
  • dill 25 gr
  • violet root 20 g
  • orange or lemon peel 30 gr.

Finely chop all ingredients and mix with vodka. Let it brew in a sealed container for 2-4 weeks. Choose a dark, warm place. After this, the drink must be mixed with sugar syrup, stirring well and left for 24 hours. Strain the finished alcohol through a fine sieve, leaving for another 2 weeks. You can reduce the exposure time a little.

Recipe? 4

What components are needed:

  • vodka 1─2 l
  • cumin 40─50 g
  • lemon balm 40─45 gr
  • mint 30─35 gr
  • fennel 20─25 gr
  • dill seeds 10─15 g
  • calamus 20─25 gr
  • coriander 25 gr.

All dry spices are finely ground and poured with vodka. The drink should be infused for twenty days in a warm place. Then
carefully filtered, sugar syrup is added if necessary.

Recipe? 5

What and how much is used in the manufacturing process:

  • vodka 1.5─2 l
  • cumin 45─50 g
  • star anise 40─50 g
  • fennel 20 gr
  • dill seeds 10 gr.

All components are poured with vodka and infused for at least fifteen days. Then the drink is filtered and sugar syrup is added to taste.

Recipe? 6

This is the fastest and easiest method, does not require long infusion, and can be consumed immediately after production. Necessary components for preparation:

  • vodka 1─1.5 l
  • cumin 2─4 teaspoons
  • cloves 2─3 pcs.

Pour vodka into the pan and add spices. Heat to 60-70?, cool to room temperature and strain. After cooling, you can enjoy caraway vodka.

Recipe? 7

Caraway vodka can be prepared from previously prepared caraway water. Which ones are needed? Ingredients:

  • Cumin 400─450 gr
  • Water 1 l.

The spice is poured with water and passed through a distillation apparatus. Or the mixture is boiled for one hour under the lid and infused. Water can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen in the freezer without losing its taste. Sweeten as needed and add to vodka.

Recipe? 8

Another unusual recipe for alcohol from ordinary or black cumin. What and how much is used in the cooking process:

  • 50 g cumin,
  • 10 g cinnamon
  • 10─15 grams of cream of tartar
  • 25 grams of mint,
  • 20─25 grams of white ginger.

Finely grind all the spices and add vodka. Leave to infuse for at least fourteen days. Afterwards the tincture is distilled in a cube or filtered.

Can additional components be used in the caraway vodka recipe to impart a reddish tint? red sandalwood or ternazol. To prepare an alcoholic drink from simple or black cumin, you can use the distillation procedure, distilling it using a moonshine still or a home distillery. The drink is infused not only with vodka, but with alcohol or moonshine.

The use of caraway tincture in medical therapy

Alcohol tincture from black cumin seeds is a pleasant and delicious treat on the holiday table, while being an indispensable assistant in restoring health and strengthening the immune system.

  • The drink is used to normalize digestion, get rid of gases and cleanse blood vessels. Helps cope with heart pain, eliminates bronchial spasm, and increases respiratory activity. It has diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antibactericidal properties, and energizes.
  • To prepare the tincture, you need to pour 15 grams of the plant with a glass of vodka or 100 grams of alcohol, first grind it thoroughly, add sugar to taste. Leave in a dark place for 14 days. Use the strained drink 1 teaspoon before your next meal. A possible option: drip 40-45 drops onto a slice of bread and eat. After using the tincture, you must take a break for at least two weeks and repeat the course if necessary.
  • Another recipe for black cumin tincture. Pour the seeds with alcohol liquid in proportions of one to one, so that the caraway seeds overlap by 3-4 ml. Leave for at least a week, take a teaspoon per 50 grams of water in the evening.
  • For acne sufferers, there is a special recipe for caraway tincture. To make it you will need half a glass of cumin seeds and a glass of alcohol. Let it sit for a week, then strain and add half a glass of clean or mineral water so that it doesn’t sting the skin too much.
  • An infusion from a wonderful plant helps fight many infections, including sore throat. To prepare the medicine, you need to pour 2-3 tablespoons of black cumin seeds into a liter of boiling water, let it brew for 3 hours. To dilute the bitterness, add honey, sugar, and lemon. It is good to gargle with the solution and add to tea.

The use of black cumin seeds, oil, and tincture is popular in many countries and is used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. This is an indispensable assistant in restoring vitality and maintaining immunity. This wonderful plant even helps fight cancer. And caraway vodka is a true gourmet delight.

Kummel (Kummel translated from German as “cumin”) is a bitter tincture of strong alcohol not lower than 40 degrees on caraway seeds, dill and anise. Depending on the recipe, other ingredients may include: sugar, honey, citrus zest, cloves, bitter orange, fennel, star anise and orris root. Finding Kümmel on sale is not easy, but this drink is relatively easy to make at home.

Historical reference. The first written mention of a recipe for caraway tincture dates back to 1503. The preparation technology was described by a remaining unknown member of the Livonian Order, a Catholic military organization consisting of German crusading knights, which explains the German name of the drink. At that time, the Livonian Order owned the Allaži parish of Latvia; it is believed that the best cumin in Europe grows in this area.

Mass production of kümmel was established in Holland at the Bols family plant at the end of the 16th century. After tasting the Dutch caraway tincture, Peter the Great decided to release his own version. To do this, the Tsar of All Rus' bought the recipe from the Bols family, made his own adjustments and built a distillery on the Allazh estate.

Russian kummel differs from the Dutch version in its increased content of alcohol, cumin and sugar. The drink quickly gained popularity in the Russian Empire, where it was called “Doppel-Kümel” (double). In addition to its excellent taste, it helped treat some ailments: stomach problems, nervous disorders, insomnia, male problems.

At the end of the 19th century, the German company Mentzendorff bought the double kümmel recipe from the Russian Empire and began mass production. After this, caraway tincture began its victorious march across Europe, and has not lost its popularity to this day.

Kümmel caraway tincture recipe

Ingredients:

  • cumin – 1 teaspoon;
  • vodka (alcohol 40%, moonshine) – 0.5 liters;
  • dill seeds – 0.5 teaspoon;
  • anise – 0.5 teaspoon;
  • sugar (honey) - to taste;
  • lemon zest - 1 tablespoon (optional);
  • cloves – 1-2 buds (optional);
  • orris root (orris) – 1 tablespoon (optional).

In addition to the alcohol base, the classic composition of Kümmel includes only caraway seeds, dill and anise. All other additives are optional. For the first time, I advise you to make a traditional tincture, slightly sweetening the drink, and during subsequent preparations, change or supplement the recipe at your discretion.

Attention! Only European cumin from the Apiaceae family is suitable for tincture, and not black (Kalinji, nigella) or cumin (cumin). Anise and star anise are not the same thing, although the smell is similar, they are different plants. Violet root is a crushed iris flower (usual yellow), despite the name, it has nothing to do with the violet itself.

Cooking technology

1. Lightly crush the spices with a wooden rolling pin or grind in a coffee grinder. Place in a jar to infuse.

2. Add vodka (alcohol, moonshine). Seal the jar hermetically and transfer it to a dark place (can be covered) at room temperature. Leave for 14 days.

To quickly prepare the tincture, the mixture can be heated to 60-70°C (explosive!), then cooled to room temperature and filtered. But to get a rich taste, it is better to do it using classical technology.

3. Strain homemade caraway tincture through cheesecloth, squeeze out the seeds. Try the drink. Sweeten with sugar or honey if desired (preferred). Stir until the sweetener is completely dissolved.

4. Pour into bottles for storage. Close tightly. Before use, leave for 3-5 days in a dark, preferably cool place to stabilize the taste.

If sediment appears at the bottom, filter the cumin tincture through cotton wool.


Shelf life when stored in glass containers is up to 5 years. Strength – 34-37%.

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