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Blaand

Recipe, Method and Review

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Blaand - the ancient drink of the Vikings
Blaand, an old Norse drink that was at one time popular in the Scottish highlands and islands, frequently made before the demise of cottage cheese industry.  As people started to reduce the amount of cheese that they made at home, they also reduced the amount of blaand that they made and drunk. Like all good recipes, the details of how to make this drink were held close to the chests of those who made it and passed down orally through the generations.
​

Blaand used to be a by-product of the cheese making process, however, I personally think that blaand is a product worth making in it's own right and cheese is a fantastic bonus to this brilliant wine!  Which ever you intend on making I am sure that you will really enjoy both!
​

Blaand can be made from either goat or cow’s milk, goat's milk produces a naturally sweeter blaand, yet blaand from cow’s milk creates a more full-bodied drink.  I have not as yet tried making blaand from sheep's milk. Individual experimentation and devoted testing will assist you in discovering your personal preferences!
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Can you make wine from milk?

​Ingredients:
  • 4.5 liters of full fat milk.
  • 1.5kg granulated sugar
  • Yeast
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Making homebrew from milk
Method:
  • Separate the curds from the whey and make cheese from the curds, follow your preferred cheese making recipe.
  • ​Whilst the whey is in the pan, add 1.5kg of sugar and dissolve.
  • When cool, transfer blaand to a 1 gallon demi-john and top up to neck of demi-john  with water, if needed. 4.5 liters of milk will give +/-4.5 liters (1 gallon) of whey.
  • Give it a good stir and then add the yeast, fit an airlock.
  • Rack as and when needed.
  • Once the fermentation has completed, rack and store for a couple of months.
  • Bottle - you can drink straight away, but the blaand does improve with age.
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Step 1: Blow a victory horn
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Step 2: Make blaand (and cheese) from milk
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Step 3: Enjoy blaand!

​Traditionally, there are two ways of drinking blaand, Young and Old - Young has not been set aside to mature and is a much lighter and easier drink, ideal for summers and paired with light seafood or salad dishes. Old blaand develops an oakiness and a certain depth that is akin to guiness and best paired with a coal fire in the midsts of winter. ​
​
Blaand is so easy to make, inexpensive and pretty tasty!  So why not give it a try - here is everything you need:

Blaand: The taste and review

After a couple of months of vigerous fermentation and quite a quick clearing period, the blaand started to sparkle in the Demijohn.  The sediments at the base of Demijohn were soon racked off and a wee taste of this viking drink revealed that it was nearly time to be bottled.  

Enjoying a glass of the fermented whey was a pleasure.  Vanilla and coconut aromas came through, leading the way for punchy pineapple and citrus to cut through.

I was most surprised at how pleasant and moreish the blaand was. Oaky yet smooth! 

Would I make the blaand again?  Without doubt!  


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Blaand - Drink of the vikings!
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Blaand - Drink of the vikings!

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Christmas pudding wine

​Let us know what you think

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  • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Wine List & Recipes
    • Banana Wine Made Simple
    • Blaand
    • Blackberry Mead
    • Christmas Pudding Wine!
    • Easy Rhubarb Wine
    • Gorse Flower Wine
    • Gutsy Ginger Wine
    • Liquorice Wine
    • Mead Making Made Simple
    • Mint Wine Recipe
    • Mushroom Wine
    • Nasturtium Leaf Wine
    • No Boil Rhubarb Wine
    • Pine Needle Wine
    • Pumpkin Wine
    • Rose Hip Leaf Wine
    • Red Kidney Bean Wine!
    • Rose Petal Wine
    • Seaweed Wine
    • Spiced banana wine
    • Turnip and Red Cabbage Wine
    • Wine Making 101
    • What is a country wine?
    • ​Can I use bread yeast to make wine?
  • Homestead
    • Dee's Corner >
      • Military wife blog
      • First Time Pregnant
    • Projects >
      • SmallholdersUK
      • Beard Award
      • #Eday on Twitter
    • Recipes >
      • Homemade Cheese
      • Pickled Quail Eggs
      • Simple Bread Loaf
      • Banana Ice-Cream
      • Rhubarb Chutney (Old)
      • Making Sea Salt on the Log Fire
      • Shepherds pie for the dogs
    • Our Island >
      • Homestead or Smallholding
      • 18 days until we move!
      • 10 days until we move
      • 2 Days to go!
      • We are here!
      • Waterworks!
      • Location is not the answer
      • Remote Living Challenges
      • The Caves
      • Reason to waggle (caves)
      • Sea Fishing in Eday
    • Duck >
      • Duck shed
      • Duck 1: Incubation
      • Duck 2: Imprinting
      • Duck 3: Outdoors
      • Duck 4: Attached
    • Quail >
      • Quail 1: Reasons
      • Quail 2: Incubation
      • Quail 3: Brooding
      • Quail 4: Raising
      • Quail 5: Suicidal
      • Quail 6: Permaculture
      • Quail 7: Environment
      • Quail 8: Setup
    • Chickens >
      • Chickens Fancy vs Warren
      • Ebay Eggs
      • Our Egg Hatching Plan
      • Nursing Chickens 1 - 2018
      • Brooding Chickens 1 - 2018
      • Hatching Chickens 1 - 2018
    • Home & Garden >
      • Baby Starling
      • Spider Plants
      • Aloe Vera
      • Fuel for winter
      • Peat, Coal, Wood
      • Hoarding Supplies
      • Coffee grounds
      • Brewers Hops
      • Brewers grain
      • Teabag compost
      • Essential oils
      • Eco Toothbrush
      • No Fridge?
    • Other articles >
      • The best and the worst of dog food!
      • Random acts of kindness
      • Bristol No Foraging
      • Philosophy on Raising Children
      • Close encounter with Bulls
      • Blog