Moonshine is a homemade strong alcoholic beverage produced in Russia for more than half a century. It was he who was served in the first tavern near the Moscow Kremlin, which was allowed only to the guardsmen. Today, moonshine is no less popular, and drinking it often turns into a national fun.
Composition and technology of production of moonshine
A variety of raw materials are used for the production of moonshine. It is made from fruits, berries, beets, potatoes, grains or yeast. These components are filled with sugar syrup and fermented, as a result of which an alcohol-containing mass is formed, which is commonly called mash. The latter is distilled through a special apparatus and a distillate is obtained, that is, moonshine. After that, the drink is often further refined by passing it through gauze with activated carbon to improve its quality.
There is also an industrial production of moonshine, but experts say that its quality cannot be compared with the drink that is produced in a handicraft way by the masters of their craft.
Types of moonshine
Moonshine is not only a traditional Russian alcoholic drink - it has analogues in many countries. Invented in Mexico, tequila, for example, is nothing more than moonshine made from the juice of a local agave plant. In Latin America, the analogue of moonshine is a drink called Chichi casera, in Germany - Schwarzgebranntes, and in France - Tord-boyaux.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Russian moonshine was superior in quality to English whiskey and French cognac.
How to drink moonshine
In order to fully feel the taste of moonshine and not harm the body, you need to drink it correctly, as well as snack on suitable foods. So, before drinking this drink, you should definitely eat, preferably hearty and fatty food - then intoxication will not come quickly, because fat will not immediately allow alcohol to enter the bloodstream.
To avoid poisoning, you should not drink moonshine in glasses. The fact is that the alcohol contained in the drink contains a significant amount of by-components, for example, methanol or fusel oil. They cause permanent and irreversible changes in the human body. If there is no way to avoid consuming moonshine during a feast, it is better to drink it in small glasses, taking long breaks between them and eating a fatty meal.
The best snack for moonshine is simple lard and black bread - this combination will not only emphasize the taste of this drink, but will also give strength to hold out until the end of the feast. You can also eat moonshine with hearty salads with mayonnaise, meat dishes and sandwiches that contain butter. It is also very tasty to drink moonshine with various pickles - with sauerkraut, pickles or mushrooms.
But it is best not to consume more than 50 g of moonshine at a time, and even then in rare cases. It is believed that such an amount will help cope with any colds and at the same time will not harm the body.
