Pineapple Beer from Liberia
Pineapple beer, like ginger beer, is more of an occasion African beverage. They are usually served at special gatherings like weddings and parties. This tropical fruit contains the antioxidant Vitamin C. It also contains bromelian. Bromelian is a mixture of enzymes that help to breakdown the amino acids in proteins. So,it’s also great for indigestion. It's a good natural anti-inflammatory so it relieves arthritis. In addition, the juice is good for dissolving mucus. In fact, it used to be used in recovery from tuberculosis. Pineapple will even relieve a sore throat and bronchitis. It is thought to speed up coagulation of the blood. This is good for your heart. But too much of it is probably not a good idea for people with hemophilia, or those with kidneys or liver disease. From Liberia. From Sonia at African-Recipes-Secrets.com
DIRECTIONS
- Wash the pineapples. Use a sharp knife and cutting board to remove the peeling. Cut into one-inch pieces.
- Transfer to a deep pot. I use an 8 quart pot.
- Use the knife to slice the pineapple off the core. Discard the core. Dice into one-inch pieces. Add to pot.
- Add enough water to the pot to cover the pineapple. Bring to a boil on high and boil on medium-high until the pineapple and skin are soft and mushy.
- Remove the pot from the stove. Cover the pot completely and allow the mixture to sit for 8 hours or overnight at room temperature.
- Pour the mixture through a metal sifter to remove the larger pieces of pineapple peel. Use a cook spoon to press help force the liquid through the sifter.
- Next, Use a clean cotton kitchen cloth to strain out the finer particles. You will have to use your hand to squeeze the pineapple beer out of the cloth.
- To sweeten, first melt sugar over low heat. Add the melted sugar and mix well. I recommend adding a half cup of the melted sugar at a time, until it is sweetened to your taste. Cut and squeeze lime. Add to juice. Chill and enjoy. Store in the fridge.
- *Tips:
- Make sure to buy the pineapple ripe. Pineapple is one of those fruits that does not ripen or sweeten if it is picked green.
- I determine the ripeness of a fresh pineapple by the smell. You can’t always go by the color because color may vary. A ripe pineapple will have a fresh, tropical smell. If it smells unpleasant or has soft and dark spots, it is bad.
- Store your pineapple at room temperature so that it keeps the sweet and tangy flavor.