Kompot

Kompot

Kompot, a cold iced drink made exclusively by Russian grandmothers, is inarguably one of the best parts of summer in Belarus – it bears the distinct flavor of childhood, easy living, and summer sweetness. Traditionally made from fresh berries – black currants, red currants, raspberries, alpine strawberries, gooseberries and whatever else is ripe in the garden, it can be adapted to an autumn harvest as well.

This time of year, we’ve been enjoying a fresh, seasonal fall kompot – made from crisp, sweet fall apples (the main ingredient), black currants frozen from the summer, quince (fresh in season), a bit of lemon, and sugar. To make – fill a pot of water, add chopped apples, berries, a bit of lemon, and whatever other fruit you choose. Bring to a boil and let the fruit soften and infuse the water; afterwards, let cool and put in the fridge. With time, the kompot will become more flavorful, so you can drink it as slowly or as quickly as you want, just make sure to eat the fruit too.