Fermented Blackcurrant Cheong Cordial

Ingredients

• 200 g Blackcurrants (Or use berries of your choice; fresh or frozen fruit may be used.)
• 10 g Young blackcurrant leaves and tender stems
• 210 g White sugar

Steps

1. 1

   Wash the blackcurrants, leaves, and tender stems thoroughly, then dry them completely. Use a clean, dry jar for the fermentation.

2. 2

   Layer the currants, leaves, and stems in the jar with the white sugar. Continue layering until the jar is filled, making sure the final layer completely covers the fruit with sugar.

3. 3

   Partway through filling the jar, use the end of a rolling pin to gently crush some of the currants into the sugar. This helps release their juice and starts the syrup.

4. 4

   Cover the jar with a lid and place it somewhere cool and dark.

5. 5

   During approximately the first month, open the jar once a week. Stir the contents with a clean spoon and push any fruit floating above the syrup back beneath the liquid.

6. 6

   If the jar begins bubbling substantially, release pressure as needed.

7. 7

   Leave the mixture for 2–3 months before tasting. Fermentation may be gentle and may not be visibly noticeable; the fruit and sugar will still produce a syrup even if obvious fermentation does not occur.

8. 8

   After 3–6 months, strain the fruit from the syrup and transfer the syrup to a clean bottle.

9. 9

   Store the finished syrup in the refrigerator. Serve it over ice, with sparkling water, or diluted with hot water; cinnamon and fresh ginger root are suggested for a warm version.

10. 10

    Use the strained fruit for breakfast, bake it into cakes or other treats, or cook it into jam or compote.

Notes

The source gives overlapping time guidance: taste after 2–3 months, and strain after 3–6 months. Stirring regularly during the first month helps prevent surface mould, which is most likely when fruit is left unstirred. The source states that batches may continue to change and mature in the refrigerator for years, but it does not provide specific spoilage or safety criteria; discard any batch showing surface mould or other signs of spoilage.

Nutrition per serving

• drink
• cordial
• fermented
• Korean-style
• cheong
• blackcurrant
• make-ahead
• no-cook