Crowberry schnapps

Crowberry schnapps - based on fresh, wild black crowberries - is one of the finest berry schnappses you can make. And it's one of my top favourites.

It has a strong and wonderful cherry-like taste and aroma. The colour is deep, deep red.

Serve with all types of cheese, cheese cakes and many desserts.

Very, very good as after-dinner drink.

Blends very well with sweet gale schnapps.

Suggestion: Blend equal parts crowberry schnapps and sweet gale schnapps and store it for 3 months or more in a dark place at room temperature.

Also, see how you can easily...
turn your crowberry schnapps into a liqueur.

Black crowberry

Empetrum nigrum

The black crowberry plant is a low growing, evergreen shrub with short, shiny and needle-like leaves. The flowers are red and very small.

The ripe berries are black and almost tasteless. But combine them with vodka and taste what happens. You'll be surprised!

Very rich in vitamin C.

Here in Denmark, black crowberry grows in acid and poor soil in raised bogs, heather areas, light coniferous woods, and coastal areas near sand dunes.

The plant is commonly found in west, middle and north Jutland (Jylland), but rare or absent elsewhere in the country.

More information about the black crowberry plant

Recipe

Use fresh, wild and fully ripe crowberries.

It doesn't matter if they are small, dry and shrivelled as they can be after a long and dry summer. You can just crush them before steeping.

But remember - steeping time is then a little shorter. So taste it from time to time.

It's very important that you leave the berries to dry for a couple of days in order to get rid of some small ticks which taste extremely awful.

The ticks will just leave their "home" once you start drying the berries.

Direction:

• Rinse the crowberries carefully.
• Leave them to dry in the shadow - on paper towel.
• If your berries are frozen - defrost them in the vodka.
• Use a clean glass jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Fill the jar with berries.
• Fill up with clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% alcohol content (80 proof).
• Steep for 1-3 months or longer - in a dark place at room temperature, 18-20°C (64-68°F).
• Shake lightly and taste it from time to time.
• Strain and filter your infusion into a clean glass bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid.

You can serve your crowberry schnapps after it has settled for a couple of days.

Or - you can store (age) it for 4-6 months in a dark place at room temperature before serving.

The flavours will change completely during storage. For the better I think. But it's a matter of taste.

Some prefer the young, fruity taste - while others prefer their crowberry schnapps after some storage, when it has a much stronger aroma and taste of berries.

Note: If for some reason you are not satisfied with your infusion, there are ways to adjust both taste and flavours - click here to see how.

Serve your crowberry schnapps at room temperature in suitable glasses. And remember to keep your schnapps bottle tightly closed and in a dark place before and between servings.