Tepache Recipe (with Pineapple Scraps)
This recipe is adapted from the All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving, and scaled to fit a half-gallon mason jar. You can halve the recipe for a quart jar batch if needed.
Servings: 8 servings, or 1/2 gallond
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 ¼ cups piloncillo or brown sugar, raw cane sugar also works
- Peels and cores from 1–2 pineapples washed thoroughly
- 6 cups warm water
- 1 cinnamon stick optional
- 2 whole cloves optional
Instructions
- Prep the Pineapple: Start by washing your pineapple thoroughly. Cut off the top and bottom, then slice vertical strips to remove the peel. Cut the pineapple into quarters and remove the fibrous cores. Set aside the fruit for canning or fresh eating—tepache uses only the scraps.
- Pack the Jar: Place the pineapple peels and cores into a clean wide-mouth half-gallon mason jar. Add the cinnamon stick and cloves if you’re using them.
- Add Sugar and Water: Dissolve the sugar in warm (not hot) water and pour it over the pineapple scraps, leaving at least 1 inch of headspace in the jar.
- Ferment: Attach your fermentation lid or airlock and let the jar sit at room temperature for 24 to 72 hours. You’ll notice bubbles forming as the fermentation gets going. Taste it after the first day, and once it reaches your preferred level of tartness and fizz, it’s ready for the next step.
- Strain and Carbonate: Remove the fermentation lid and strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Transfer the strained liquid to a clean mason jar, seal it with a standard lid, and let it sit at room temperature for another 6 to 12 hours to build carbonation.
- Store and Serve: Once it's lightly fizzy, move the jar to the refrigerator. Your tepache should keep for about two weeks—but chances are, it’ll be gone well before then.
Notes
Serve it cold over ice, mix it with sparkling water for extra fizz, or use it as a tangy base for summer cocktails.
Nutrition
Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 0.02g | Fat: 0.01g | Saturated Fat: 0.004g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.004g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 0.2mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.3mg