Hi Newsgroup... Darlene in particular.
I finally found some Old Orchid Juice Concentrates here in Anchorage. Any tips on using this? Any experiences that may help me along?
Thanks, A. J. Rawls Anchorage, Alaska, USA
A.J., Hey, glad you found them. Over the years, I've found that the batches can stick, although I'm not sure why (maybe too many preservatives in the juice). I do use 2 cans of frozen concentrate per 1 gallon batch. I've found that things work better if you add some yeast nutrient prior to adding the yeast. Also, I treat them like I would fermenting a batch with fruit...I use an open container which I can stir 2 times a day to add a little oxygen to keep things going. I usually cover my container with saran wrap (plastic wrap) to keep out any nasties. My favorites are Apple-Cherry, Apple, Grape, and Strawberry/apple/kiwi (which I call Strapplekiwi). Got a recipe in mind or can I send you one? Darlene
It's a generic recipe I found in Terry Garey's book "the joy of home winemaking", with few modifications....
2 - 12 oz cans of frozen juice (thawed) 1 - 6 oz can of frozen lemonade (thawed & strained) 2 cups sugar (can go more or less depending on the % alcohol content you're looking for) about 12-13% 1 gallon water + 1 cup for top-up (3 qts +1 cup boiled & cooled) (1 qt + sugar boiled) 1 tsp yeast nutrient 1/4 tsp tannin 1/2 tsp pectic enzyme 1 package wine yeast I looked back and I have made the Apple-Raspberry, it was good too. Darlene
All went well for two 3 gallon batches....
Then I worked on a 6 gallon Mango Wine...
Then I worked on another 3 gallon Old Orchid wine and got my recipes mixed up... I refuse to dump anything so I had to expand this one to a 9 gallon batch after I put in enough sugar for a 6 gallon Mango. I just got back from the store getting 12 more cans of Old Orchid and 6 cans of Lemonade. I sure hope my family and friends like this one.
I have tried a Welch's White Grape Mango Passion and a Welch'd Tropical. (Both 100% juice). They're at about a year and a half old now. As a learning experience, I feel they are at maturity peak, and I am almost fighting them down. They have progressed well from the original fruit juice and now I see the wine as best as I can.
The only thing.... the flavors themselves are just not suited for wine. The WG-mango-passion is a bit better than the Tropical. But neither will get served to family or friends. I have tried sweetening, and that too falls short.
I hope yours is better!
Greg, Erie, PA
I have made wines with Welch Frozen Concentrate products before and my family loved them (so did some judges in tastings)... They were best when consumed young. I would be very happy if the Old Orchid products make wines as well as Welch's White Grape Concentrate products.
A. J. Rawls Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Don't get me wrong. I have made other Welch's products with great success, and enjoy them as well. My favorite being white grape rasberry and white grape peach. I give body to some other fruit wines with the standard niagara as well.
It is just the way the flavors came together on the tropical blend that I was not happy with.
Greg Erie, PA
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