Kompot (Polish Fruit Drink)
From Poland
A homemade Polish fruit drink made by gently simmering berries and apples with a little sugar. Served chilled in summer or warm in winter, it tastes like a grandmother's kitchen.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Serves
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
Plus time to cool
Ingredients
For 8 servings
- 2.5 liters water
- 500 g mixed berries, fresh or frozen (strawberries, cherries, raspberries or blackcurrants)
- 2 apples, cored and cut into chunks
- 100 g sugar or honey, or to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Step by step
Step 1: Bring the water to a boil in a large pot.
Step 2: Add the berries, apple chunks and cinnamon stick.
Step 3: Simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, until the fruit is soft and the water has turned a beautiful deep color.
Step 4: Turn off the heat and stir in the sugar or honey and the lemon juice until dissolved. Taste and add more sweetness if you like.
Step 5: Let the kompot cool completely in the pot so the fruit keeps giving its flavor.
Step 6: Strain it into a jug, or pour it into glasses with some of the fruit. Serve chilled, or gently warmed on cold days.
Cooking times and amounts may vary, so taste and adjust as you cook.
