Banana Raisin Wine
Banana Raisin Wine is the newest addition to our homemade wine collection. Making wine at home is always a wonderful, stimulating experience. If you are a beginner, don’t be intimidated; just try with a small quantity and you will be good to go, or try my basic Grape wine recipe. You may also like my plush Dates Wine recipe. Trying out the traditional recipes that are passed on from generations; experimenting and modifying; brewing and tasting, sharing and enjoying It is really an awesome experience! Fruit Wine can be made with any fruit, and some of you might have tried Banana wine; which is another wonderful recipe that I will be adding soon! When we made Banana wine for the first time, it tasted little elusive, hence Jibu decided to experiment and add more flavors to it.
This Banana Raisin Wine is made of Bananas (‘Palayamkodan’ Banana) and sweet raisins. Bananas are a treasure box of anti oxidant nutrients and energizers. Please check this link to know more about health benefits of Banana : https://www.healthambition.com/10-surprising-banana-benefits/. The raisins provide a delightful fruity flavor and add a golden tinge to the wine color. The more it is aged, the more heavenly it is. Initially, it may look a little milky while bottling, but if you keep it for ageing gracefully, say for 6 months to one year, you will get a brilliant golden beauty that is crystal clear. It is a divinely beguiling tropical treat; a distinctive asset to your winery! Enjoy and spread the cheers!!
Ingredients:
| Banana (Palayamkodan) | : 2 kg |
| Raisins | : ½ cup (70 gms) |
| Sugar | : 2 kg |
| Water | : 4 ltr + ½ cup |
| Yeast | : 1 ½ tsp |
| Cloves | : 2 – 4 nos |
| Cinnamon | : 2 piece |
| Dried Red chili | : 3 nos. |
Method:
Measure and keep ready all the ingredients. Boil and cool the water. In a hot Tawa/ Pan, place the dried red chilies and slightly brown both sides. Wash the raisins in fresh water and drain and keep aside. Wash, sterilize with hot water and dry the ceramic jar. It should be big enough to leave ample space for fermenting. Take ½ cup warm water and add yeast to it with 1 tbsp sugar. Mix well and keep covered for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel the bananas and cut it into thin rounds. Add this to the jar. Layer the sugar in between. Now add the raisins. Add the water and stir gently in one direction to mix well. Now add the yeast mix, crushed cloves, cinnamon and the chilies. Stir gently again with a long handled spoon (wooden spoon).
Close the jar with a cloth covered lid and cover and keep in a warm place. For the next 21 days (recording the date you started would help) stir with the long handled spoon every day before sunset (same time preferably) and skim any foam that is formed on top. This is the fermentation period. Close the lid nicely each time.
After 21 days strain the wine with a clean muslin cloth or a giant strainer to another sterilized glass jar or container. Clean the wine jar and transfer the strained wine to the wine jar itself. It will be somewhat milky color.
Tightly cover the jar with cloth and lid and keep in a cool dark place for another 21 days without disturbing. Now, transfer the wine to glass bottles with tight caps using a siphon pump. Keep it in a cool place to age gracefully till you get a crystal clear, brilliant golden liquid with all finesse. Enjoy, gift and spread the cheers!!
Tips:
- I have used Palayamkodan Banana for making this wine. You can try with Robusta or Poovan as well.
- Wash and drain raisins to remove any unwanted residues.
- Always use boiled and cooled water to make wine.
- During the fermenting period wine jar should be stored at warm, normal temperature for fermenting nicely.
- Use wooden spoon to stir the wine and try to stir at a set time every day if possible before sunset.
- Banana Raisin wine tastes better if you keep it for ageing for longer period.
- To know more about the health benefits of Banana, check : https://www.healthambition.com/10-surprising-banana-benefits/ .
- Always keep in a dark cool place for ageing.
Amaze your guests with your own homemade Banana Raisins wine; a golden beauty to delight your senses. If you like this recipe, do share with your friends using the buttons on the sides. Looking forward to your valuable comments. It would really encourage and motivate me. God Bless!!
When making Banana wine I’m used to boil banana slices in water.
(1kg. banana with 500ml. water)Boil it 5min. and cooled before use.
This will prevent the chances of wine going bad and become sour.By this we can destroy harmful bacteria and unwanted yeast naturally present on bananas.
I have never boiled Bananas, and the wine has never turned sour. Although Bananas contain slight yeast, it contains a lot of fiber, pottassium, Phosporous, magnesium, calcium etc. So, in case of Bananas, the risks are outweighed by nutritional value. I feel that the taste of the wine might get affected by boiling. Will try your recipe next time I get good Bananas. Thanks for the valuable tip.
if more amount is used , can we have to increase the yeast in same amount or lesser .
Hi Amala, Please don’t increase the measure of yeast proportionally. Yeast is added to aid/ start fermentation process. So, if you are doubling the measure, just add a generous pinch more. That would be enough. Thanks.
Are we using instant yeast??
yes. Instant dry yeast is used. Thank you.
Mam may I add wheat into this?
Actually wheat is not required, Banana wine has a very slight bitter taste and if too much wheat is added the bitterness will subdue the real flavours. The red chilly provides the punch to the wine. If you are keen to add little wheat, tie in a cloth and add. Hope it helps.
Hi…Thanks for this lovely wine recipe…made it today juz like you did and kept for fermentation…Can we use this wine to soak dry fruits for plum cake?
Thank you Jilu for trying out my Banana Raisin Wine. The wine is extremely good, but I have never used it for soaking fruits. I usually use grave wine for soaking fruits. You may soak fruits in it, but I seriously doubt, if you will have any left over wine!! 🙂
How much yeast needed for 1 kg banana? 1 kg sugar and 3/4 TSP yeast with 2 ltrs of water ok? Raisin and the rest are the same. Just for trial purpose. Plz suggest. Thanks
Hi Herald, Yes, for 1 kg. Banana, 1 kg sugar and 3/4 tsp Yeast would suffice. Please do try.
Haha I doubt it too…..!! Thanks for the reply.will soak the fruits in grape wine as u said.
Blessings.
🙂 You are welcome. Let me know how it turned out for you after tasting. God bless.
Mam, Adding red chilly,does it increases alcohol percentage in wine
No, it does not increase the alcohol percentage in Wine. Red chilly adds little heat and increase the depth of flavours to Banana Wine.
I make your wine regularly. It’s a big hit with my family. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thank you so much for your comment. Happy to hear this. Keep visiting!