How to make rakija

Good evening after a small break,

As mentioned before, I went to Turkey with cat kids and had really very busy schedule for almost last 10 days hence couldn't find chance to write to blog. Will share individually these experiences as which route, what procedures for cat kids/pets, for artifacts such as painting etc.

Approximately 10 days ago we prepared rakija from our grapes with next door neighbour. He does not drink hence left all grapes and rakija to me. Even last year he gave the grapes and I made pekmez with them and shared with friends.

To make rakija process starts more less three weeks before. You can use almost any fruit to make rakija.

We collected all grapes from our gardens. I had only 1.5 baskets, mostly came from neighbour's garden.

Listened the advice of neighbour and split them then wash. Found minimum 10 spiders and a few more tenants who lives insides; therefore strictly advise to do the same.

One of grape cluster from my garden ❤

Seems as I forgot to take photos of second step. When we washed them, neighbour mesh them by hand then we placed them in a big plastic tank. Not big as what all other neighbours use, just a 120 liters tank and we filled half of the tank. Then we left it for fermentation during three weeks. Every day mixed with a garden fork to have a good mixture and fermentation.

As wrote, I do not have the required apparatus to boil/cook rakija. Once more thank to next door neighbour; he spoken with another neighbour who has that and let us know to bring our one. I offered to give the wood which is necessary to heat it but he did not accept. I made kisir (a traditional dish from my home city made with wheat) and put some pickle to say thank you.

Last year several times invited by neighbours to join them while they were making rakija but no one didn't share this important detail before. They are putting a bottle with water under the rakija tap. Neighbour said that with this way they are blocking methyl alcohol of the fruit to avoid any poisoning or headache. Possible to see that floating on the upper part of the bottle.