Recipe#6291

Title: SIMA - FINNISH MAY DAY DRINK - PRONOUNCED 'SEE-MAH'

SOAR

      Yield: 24 servings
 
     10 qt Water;fresh pure
      2    Lemons;fine
  2 1/2 c  Brown sugar
  2 1/2 c  White sugar
    1/3 c  Dark corn syrup;optional
    1/4 ts Dry yeast
           Raisins
 
  Shave the yellow peel from the lemons, cutting very thinly so that as
  little of the white underlayer as possible is attached. Set the yellow
  slices aside. Then peel the bitter white underlayer off and discard
  it. Slice the lemons into very thin slices. Place them into a
  container and cover them so they don't dry out.
  Boil the water in a large kettle. Remove it from the heat and stir in
  the yellow lemon peel, the sugars, and the syrup. When the sugars have
  dissolved, cover the kettle and let the contents cool to room
  temperature (25'C or 75'F). Then add the lemon slices and the yeast.
  Leave it to stand overnight.
  Place 4-5 raisins and a teaspoon of white sugar in the bottom of each
  of several clean bottles (wine or soda pop). Pour the sima into the
  bottles, straining it through a sieve to remove the lemon. Cap the
  bottle tightly.
  The sima will be ready to drink when the raisins rise to the top of
  the bottles, about 3-7 days depending on the temperature of the room
  where they are stored. Serve it well chilled.