Cvas

Description
In Romanian: Bautura sanatoasa (Cvas)

Ingredients

 * 12 qts / 12 l water
 * 2 lbs / 1 kg rye bread
 * 1 oz / 25 g yeast
 * 1 lb / 500 g sugar
 * 12 raisins
 * 12 rice grains
 * peel from half a lemon

Directions

 * 1) Dry the thinly sliced bread in the oven.
 * 2) Boil the water, add the sugar and pour on top of the dried bread that was placed on the bottom of a 15 qt glass jar.
 * 3) Add the lemon peel, cover with a napkin and let stand for 4 – 5 hours.
 * 4) Strain through a dense sieve, add the yeast dissolved in a little water, mix, cover with a napkin and let stand another 4 – 5 hours until the drink starts to foam.
 * 5) Strain a second time and pour in bottles.
 * 6) Leave two inches empty at the top.
 * 7) To each bottle add a raisin and a rice grain.
 * 8) Cap with a boiled cork and tie it with a string.
 * 9) Do this for all bottles.
 * 10) Keep the bottles horizontal in a cool place.
 * 11) In 2 – 3 days, the cvas is ready.
 * 12) Do not stir the bottle before uncorking.