This may seem strange to someone, but 300-400 years ago, the term "moonshine" was called the hunting stage. Today, everyone knows that this is a home-made drink. Usually, crops are taken as raw materials. In this case, the vodka is strong enough, but soft at the same time. If you want to treat yourself and your loved ones with this drink, then you will come in handy a proven recipe for moonshine from wheat.
The best cooking option
What is the home-made recipe for wheat moonshine? If you look at the shelves of liquor stores, you may find that grain vodka is more expensive than any other. It depends on the raw materials used in the production. The principle of the mechanism of fermentation of grain crops is quite simple. In the grain during the development of the sprout, starch is broken down and converted to sugar. To prepare high-quality moonshine, you need to choose only the best raw materials. Do not use wheat that has been treated with pesticides. Also, rotten and sweet grain will not work. If you want to get a quality drink, then it is better not to save.
Sugar is used as food for yeast and fungi. Mushrooms feed on glucose and at the same time produce carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. This mechanism is so optimized that the aroma of fresh bread is preserved in the drink. Properly made at home, moonshine made from wheat is a bit sweet and strong. With moderate use, such a drink will not harm health at all.
Cooking steps
In high-grade wheat, the starch content can reach from 40 to 70%. However, yeast cannot be directly fed. Therefore, it is necessary to germinate or steam the grain so that the starch is saccharified.
The whole process can be divided into the following steps:
- boiling the grain to the state of paste;
- the use of paste for saccharification;
- starch elimination;
- cleavage of the dry mixture with malt enzymes;
- the conversion of starch to glucose available for nutrition of yeast;
- sugar processing by yeast;
- getting alcohol.
How is wheat germinated?
Let's dwell on this in more detail. In most cases, the recipe for moonshine made from wheat includes such a stage as its germination. This helps to activate all biochemical processes. The wheat layer is spread out with a layer of 5-7 cm and poured with water at 2 cm. In summer, experts recommend changing water 2-3 times a day, and in winter just mix the grain with your hands. The fluid must be drained every day. The grain is washed and left for germination. For this purpose, it is covered with a wet cloth on top. Raw materials are regularly sprayed with water. Wheat is often mixed in order to gain access to oxygen. When sprouts appear up to 5-7 mm long, the germination process can be considered completed.
Do you need yeast?
What is the best wheat moonshine recipe? There are two main methods for making mash for an alcoholic drink. You can use malt, but you can do without it. In any case, it is not necessary to use industrial yeast. This is a prerequisite for those who want to get a high quality drink. This is the only way to drive out excellent wheat moonshine.
Moonshine without sugar and yeast
So, what is the peculiarity of this option? The recipe for making moonshine from wheat, which does not use factory yeast and granulated sugar, is considered the oldest. In addition to grain and water, an ingredient such as hop boxes is also needed to create the drink. It is they who act as a constant component of a variety of beers and kvass.
Recipes
So what are the options? Consider in more detail the composition used to prepare such a drink:
- 3 kg of high-quality wheat grain;
- purified well water;
- top dressing for yeast (apples, fruits or beets can be used for this purpose).
To prepare the steaming is used:
- 2 liters of purified water;
- a handful of self-made wheat flour;
- a pinch of dry hops.
Cooking method
How to make moonshine on wheat without yeast? The recipe presented below requires special preparation. All ingredients must be carefully sorted and washed. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the result will not be too good. If you wash away wild yeast from the grain, then in principle no mash will work. The leaven will simply turn sour and you will have to get rid of it.
The moonshine recipe from wheat (at home) includes the following sequence of actions:
- Grains are poured into a wide container in an even layer.
- Wheat is poured with warm water so that it is a couple of centimeters above the grain level.
- The pan is loosely covered and cleaned in a warm, dark place. In this state, it is left for 3-4 days, until a foam forms on the surface. After this, it is necessary to carefully ensure that the water in the vessel does not sour.
- To avoid acidification, try to mix wheat gently daily.
To prepare the steaming, you need to grind the grain into coarse flour in a simple household mill. For this purpose, a simple coffee grinder or meat grinder is also suitable, but the result in this case will be slightly worse, and more raw materials will be needed. The flour obtained after grinding must be mixed with warm water and hop cones. After that, the container is put in a dark, not cold place for a couple of days.
Ripening mash
No recipe for moonshine from wheat without sugar is complete without this stage. You will definitely need fertilizing for fungi. It is laid out at the bottom of the fermentation vessel and poured with a pre-cooked steamer (hops). Also, a starter made on sprouted grains is added on top. 5 liters of pure soft water are added to the resulting mixture. After that, all components are thoroughly mixed. Put a hydrolyzer on the neck of the jar or bottle. If you do not have this device, you can simply put a simple rubber glove on the container. A microscopic hole is made in one of the fingers.
Such a mash must survive at home for 7-8 days. It is recommended to stir the wort daily with a long spoon. This will help to bring oxygen to the liquid, which is required by the yeast to ensure vital activity. The mash is sent for distillation only after the fermentation process is over.
Distillation
Let's dwell on this in more detail. How to make high-quality moonshine on wheat without yeast? The recipe includes a procedure such as distillation. For this purpose, a moonshine is required. It is necessary to distill raw materials twice. This will eliminate unnecessary impurities. If you are sure that the fermentation process has completed, you can proceed to the preliminary cleaning.
The first stage is carried out according to a completely simple scheme. The strength in the stream should reach about 5-10 degrees. Then the liquid is mixed and diluted with warm water to 20 ° C. After that, it is placed in a cube for a second distillation.
What is the essence of the distillation process? Water and alcohol have different boiling points at the same atmospheric pressure level.
If you strictly follow the recipe for moonshine from sprouted wheat, then the following control points can be distinguished:
- The fire under the cube is minimized. The liquid is heated to a temperature of 65-68 degrees. The resulting fraction is called "heads." It is generally accepted that such moonshine is not suitable for consumption. It can only be used for technical purposes.
- At the next stage, the dishes for assembly are changed. Make sure that there is no release of mash. Moonshine should not flow in a stream. It is enough that he only dripped slightly.
- If the fire under the cube cannot be reduced, then it is necessary to use dividers. The main stage of distillation is achieved at temperatures of 78-83 degrees. Real professionals call the resulting fraction "body."
- Upon reaching a temperature of 85 degrees, you need to select the "tails". They are mainly fusel oils with a pungent odor. However, many believe that such fractions give moonshine a special piquant taste.
- After distillation, the pros recommend final cleaning of the moonshine. To do this, you can use various methods. Usually, potassium permanganate or charcoal is used. They absorb all harmful substances from the liquid.
It is believed that moonshine will fully reveal all the facets of its taste after it has stood for some time in a glass container in a cool dark place. It is better to withstand it for 3-4 days. So, the drink will become softer and more aromatic.
Cooking moonshine with sugar
What are the features of this method. In addition to the classical methods of preparation, a recipe for moonshine from wheat and sugar has earned great popularity. It is advisable to use full grain for it. Crushed products are not suitable for germination. 1 kg of sprouted grain is mixed with half a kilogram of sugar. The composition is thoroughly kneaded with hands. If the mass is too thick, it can be diluted a little with water.
After this, the vessel is covered with gauze and put in a warm place where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees. Try to avoid drafts. In this state, the yeast yeast is kept for 10 days. Then 3.5 kg of sugar, 3 kg of wheat and 30 liters of warm water are added to it. It is possible to determine that the mash is ready for a special smell and taste. Distillation of moonshine is carried out in the usual way.
Making an Alcoholic Drink with Yeast
This is one of the most popular methods. Today, many are interested in how to make moonshine from wheat with yeast.
The recipe for such a drink includes the following ingredients:
- 8.5 kg of spring wheat;
- 1.5 kg of unfermented barley malt ;
- yeast;
- 24 liters of purified water.
The wheat is crushed, the liquid is heated in a large tank to a temperature of 71 degrees. Malt and grain are gradually poured into the water. At the same time, try to ensure that no lumps form. You should get a homogeneous dense mass. The temperature is gradually brought to 65 degrees. In this state, the composition is kept for a couple of hours. During this time, the malt enzymes completely convert starch into sugar. Then do an iodine test. The liquid should become lighter. Try to quickly cool the wort to 25 degrees. This can be done with an ice bath.
Chilled wort is poured into the fermenter. Sugar content should be at the level of 12-13%. If it is higher, it must be diluted with water. Next, you need to make yeast. You can use simple dry or compressed. Beer rooms are also suitable. Our amount of mash requires 30 grams of dry or 150 grams of pressed yeast. They must first be scattered. After you put them into the wort, a water lock is placed on the container. Fermentation occurs at a temperature of 28-30 degrees for 4-5 days. Using such a recipe for moonshine made from wheat, you can easily and quickly prepare a high-quality drink. The main thing is to adhere to all recommendations.
The degree of readiness of the mash is determined by smell. Moonshine is expelled in the usual way. The liquid must first be separated from wheat.
Conclusion
What is the best wheat moonshine recipe? The answer to this question is quite difficult. It depends on many factors: the conditions in which you are going to make a drink, financial opportunities, the availability of free time. The final result in any case will depend on the quality of the raw materials you use and the observance of the cooking technology. But be that as it may, remember that excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can be detrimental to health.