I thought I'd just get in a quick post between job applications and planning!
Another busy day, but with some time to do nice things with my granddaughter.
She stayed over last night and almost as soon as she got here she asked if there was any ginger wine.
She loves ginger wine (non alcoholic of course - we're not starting her on the slippery slope yet!)
Flic describes it as a "tickle" in her throat.
When she found out we had none left she immediately said that we needed to make more "for grandad".
It being almost bedtime I promised we'd make it this morning, and that is how I came to be making ginger wine at 8.30am on a Sunday morning.
Luckily it's not difficult to make using a bottle of Riddles Ginger Compound. (Doesn't the very name sound so wonderfully vintage?)
You simply take 2lbs of Sugar and add it to 5 pints of boiling water, then leave it to cool. ( I cheat and dissolve the sugar in 2 pints of boiling water then top up with 3 pints of cold) You then add your bottle of ginger compound, stir well and bottle - simples!!
It made enough to fill these three bottles as well as half fill an empty wine bottle. The instructions on the bottle say to add a campden tablet to each bottle if you want to store it, but I don't bother - partly because I try and keep our exposure to chemicals as low as possible but also because it's so delicious it never really lasts long enough to warrant it. If I remember rightly I paid £2.99 for the compound in Holland & Barrett, but bought quite a few when they were buy one get one free. That makes the total cost about £1.50 for the compound plus 97p for the sugar. A local shop sells the made up "wine" for nearly £3 a bottle.
The compound also comes in "extra hot", I've got a few bottles of that in the cupboard but haven't made it up yet. Though Dave's looking forward to trying that one it might be a little too tickly in the throat for Flic.
The last time we made this Flic took a small bottle of it home with her but complained that it ran out too quickly, so today she went home with one of the big bottles shown above which of course had to be labelled "Felicity's Ginger Wine"
I love ginger wine - so guess who will be off to H&B this week to see if I can get some of this "medicinal compound"?
ReplyDeleteHelenxx
yum...we drink a lot of ginger, but i have not tried making my own yet. I might give it a try.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun thing to do with your granddaughter. I admit though that I've never heard of or tried ginger wine ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can remember having a ginger beer plant that had to be fed each day. But I think that there was a small amount of alcohol in it.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
I love ginger wine (the alcoholic version). That compound is marvellously retro, I must keep an eye out for it. x
ReplyDeleteSo does it work.
ReplyDeleteAn old fashioned remedy I'll have to try.
Susan
Must have some of this, I'll see if our local Holland and Barret have it today. Sounds so yummy, good old Felicity... Julie xxx
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what Flic means about the 'tickly in the throat' LOL .. Bless her :o)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE ginger drinks! Thankyou so much for sharing this with us, as I'm off to Holland and Barrett tomorrow -Seriously!
You say 'a quick post in between job applications and planning...' I hope alls going well for you all?
You take care now, and wrap up warm you hear?
Love n hugs,
Donna xx
Hello! Found your blog via google! You sound like you know all about your ginger wine, and as a newbie to making it I have a question - I do hope you don't mind!
ReplyDeleteThe Campden tablet, how important is it? Also, how long does the wine last without it? Thanks in advance :-)
p.s love your blog x
Sorry I've taken so long to get back to you - just "found" your comment. The Campden tablet is essential if you are going to keep the drink for more than 2-3 weeks as without it then begins to go mouldy. Thanks for the positive comment. xxx
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