Drink the Harvest Book Review

Make your own cider, mead, tea and more with drink the harvest.

drink the harvest

I am a big fan of Storey Publishing and their books, especially their food and gardening books. So I was pleased to read about one of their newer books, drink the harvest by Nan K. Chase and DeNeice C. Guest.  I can count on Storey to bring me new, different, canning and preserving books and this one does not disappoint.

drink the harvest is all about how to make homemade juices, wine, mead, tea, cider, and syrups from the ingredients you find in your backyard or at the farmers’ market. The authors include recipes for the more familiar like apple juice, the more unusual like blueberry-basil syrup, and the truly unique like heirloom potato wine. The book shows lots of interesting ways to extend your preserving hobby and garden harvest. It is a wonderful addition to the canning and gardening book shelf.

What I Liked About drink the harvest

Excellent photos: Full color photos of the ingredients, the end products, and the processes.

Encouragement: Nan and DeNeice are like your favorite teachers, assuring us all that we have the ability to grow and preserve the harvest! They have even convinced me to plant a crab apple tree.

Suggestions: Expert recommendations for suggested garden plants, to grow yourself or purchase during the season.

Step-by-step directions: For canning, extracting juice, canning and more. All with excellent photos. Makes you feel like you are there with the authors.

Tips and hints: Sprinkled throughout the book, with suggestions for making adult drinks, alternate uses for the juices and syrups you make, troubleshooting guides and more.

Food science: Lots of books tell you how to make wine or mead, but not as many explain the fermentation process. If you are a science nerd like me, you’ll love the easy-to-understand fermentation explanation. There is also an excellent explanation of the kombucha making process with photos showing the SCOBY – something that confuses new kombucha-makers at times.

Recipes: Lots of recipes. Lots of unique recipes that I want to try now. Recipes like Grape Cider, Herb Wine, and Watermelon-Mint Syrup. And lots more.

Website:

drink the harvest has its own site, with blog updates and even more suggestions.

 

What I Didn’t Like About drink the harvest

Nothing. There was nothing to not like. drink the harvest is approachable, easily understood, and an unusual way to approach your garden harvest. It is perfect for gardening and canning enthusiasts of all levels, even those just starting out.

 

Related Links:

Making Kombucha at Home

Kombucha Health Benefits

 

by Renee Pottle

Renee Pottle, a freelance writer and Home Economist, is fanatic about all things food. She blogs about canning and food preservation at SeedToPantry.com. Find her professional food writing info at PenandProvisions.com.

April 18, 2015

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