Louhisaaren Juoma (Finnish blackcurrant leaf drink)

This year has not been the best year for blackcurrants in my garden. It seems like everyone else is harvesting pounds of them, but I have had quite literally two. Yes two berries on four enormous bushes. I put it down to the sparrows. We have lots and lots of sparrows in the garden and they do a wonderful job of keeping the pests down, but I have to compromise with my currants because they also love those!

Luckily the leaves are not on the menu for the sparrows and every year I look for new ways to use the leaves, from drying for teas to blackcurrant leaf wine. And it was as I was picking leaves to start a batch of wine that I remembered a delicious and simple Finnish drink that uses blackcurrant leaves.

This is probably not a drink you are familiar with if you are not of Finnish descent or Finnish yourself, but many people in Finland remember it fondly from their childhood and it evokes memories of summer days. The delicate flavour of the blackcurrant leaves is infused for a day with lemons and sugar, before it ferments slightly in the fridge to give a slightly sparkling drink. The yeast in the recipe produces the sparkle, but it also makes the drink VERY slightly alcoholic (less than 1% alcohol) and in Finland it is drunk by one and all (kids included). Be aware that the longer you leave it the higher the alcohol content will be, however it's never going to that high given that it's kept in the fridge.

Try to choose nice green leaves that are not blemished or nibbled by insects. I like to go for a selection of old and young leaves. The old leaves give a beautiful colour and rich flavour and the younger leaves are tender and fragrant.

Louhisaaren Juoma (Finnish blackcurrant leaf drink). Makes approx 4 x 1 litre (2 pint) bottles

Ingredients

3 litres / 6.3 pints water

1 litre / 2 pints of blackcurrant leaves

300g / 10.5 oz sugar

1 lemon

A pea sized piece of fresh yeast

Method

Wash the leaves. Wash the lemon and cut it into slices and place it with the leaves and sugar into a large bowl or a pan (big enough to take 5 litres). I use a clean bucket for this stage. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the leaves, sugar and lemon.

Mix the yeast with a little water, and when the water in the bucket or bowl is cooled to room temperature stir in the yeast. Cover lightly with a cloth and leave it to infuse at room temperature for a day.

The following day strain the drink through a sieve into spotlessly clean bottles.

Let it sit in the fridge for 3 days before drinking. Serve really cold.

It will keep for a few weeks in the fridge but is best served after a couple of days.

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Why not make the most of your delicious blackcurrant leaf drink with a slice of Finnish blueberry tart. This is a rich and creamy tart studded with fresh blueberries. A perfect reminder of a summers day in a Finnish forest.

Get the recipe here