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Sima, a sparkling, hard lemonade | In Jennie's Kitchen

Sima, a refreshing summer drink

Ingredients
  

  • 8 cups 2 L. boiling water
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated natural cane sugar
  • 1 organic lemon thinly sliced
  • Pinch of active dry yeast
  • 8 raisins

Instructions
 

  • Add the water, sugars, and lemon slices to a non-reactive container (i.e. not metallic). Stir until the sugars dissolve, and let the water cool to lukewarm, about 115Fº (45Cº)—it should be warm, but not hurt when you sprinkle a few drops on your wrist.
  • Stir in the yeast. Let the mixture stand in a warm spot 8 to 10 hours, or overnight, until tiny bubbles appear around the edges of the container (read the notes in my original post about this step).
  • Strain the liquid into two 1-quart glass jars, discarding the lemon slices. Place 4 raisins in each jar. Close tightly with lids, and let stand at room temperature until the raisins have swelled, and risen to the top, anywhere from 8 hours to 2 days, depending on the temperature in your house (this is how you know the Sima has fermented enough).
  • Chill until very cold. Sima will keep in the fridge for at least 1 month.