Background
This is a naturally fermented soda made from plums using a carrot bug as the starter. The process involves blending ripe and slightly underripe plums, diluting the juice, and allowing it to ferment at room temperature to create natural carbonation.
Recipe
Ingredients
A mix of ripe and underripe plums
50ml carrot bug starter
Water
Sugar (optional)
Equipment
Blender
Strainer
Fermentation Bottle
Cheesecloth
Instructions
-
Juicing
Blend the plums with the skin on and strain the resulting juice. -
Dilution
Dilute the juice with approximately 3.5 parts water. -
Inoculation
Add the carrot bug starter to the diluted juice and bottle it. -
Fermentation
Leave the bottle at room temperature for about 48 hours. -
Chilling
Chill the bottle in the fridge for at least 12 hours to help the CO2 dissolve into the liquid before serving.
Notes and Observations
- The resulting soda is very tasty, but it could benefit from a slightly longer fermentation time for more fizz.
- Adding a small amount of sugar, beyond what is naturally present in the fruit, could also help increase carbonation.
- For future batches, straining the juice through a cheesecloth would be beneficial to remove as much fine pulp as possible for a clearer result.