Ingredients
Infusion
- 1 kgwild blueberries (afine)
- 400 gsugar
- 700 mlțuică, brandy or vodka, 40%
Optional
- a strip of lemon peel
- 1cinnamon stick
Directions
- Use wild blueberries if you can get them. They are smaller, darker and far more intensely flavoured than cultivated ones, and they are what the Carpathian villages gather in July.
- Pick the berries over and discard any leaves and stems, then wash and dry them thoroughly. Water left on the fruit is what starts a mould later.
- Crush about a third of them lightly with a spoon to release their juice, leaving the rest whole.
- Layer the berries and sugar in a large clean jar with the lemon peel and cinnamon if using.
- Cover with muslin rather than a lid and stand the jar in the sun for two weeks, swirling every day or two, until the sugar has dissolved into a dark syrup.
- Pour over the spirit, seal the jar properly, and move it somewhere dark.
- Leave at least four more weeks. The colour will deepen to near black and the flavour rounds out considerably.
- Strain through muslin into bottles, pressing the fruit gently. Serve in small glasses at room temperature, or over ice in summer.
Technique
- Dry the fruit completely. Wet berries are how a jar goes mouldy in the sun stage.
- Muslin during the sun stage, sealed once the spirit goes in.
- Cultivated blueberries work but give a paler, milder liqueur — use more of them.
Substitutions
- Vodka for țuică, which gives a cleaner infusion.
- Blackberries, elderberries or wild raspberries, all made the same way.
- Honey in place of some of the sugar.
Variations
- Vișinată is the same method with sour cherries.
- Some Carpathian households add a few juniper berries.
History
Made in the Carpathian villages from berries gathered on the high pastures in July.
Frequently asked questions
What is Afinata?
Afinata is a wine & spirit from Romania: deep purple liqueur of wild blueberries steeped in spirit and sugar. Made in the Carpathian villages from berries gathered on the high pastures in July.
How long does Afinata take to make?
Afinata takes 20 min plus 6 weeks steeping of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes makes about 1.5 litres. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Afinata?
Yes, within limits. Vodka for țuică, which gives a cleaner infusion. Blackberries, elderberries or wild raspberries, all made the same way. Honey in place of some of the sugar.
What is the most important thing to get right in Afinata?
Cover with muslin rather than a lid and stand the jar in the sun for two weeks, swirling every day or two, until the sugar has dissolved into a dark syrup.
