Rumpot, anyone started theirs yet

[Jeannine]

I wondered as the strawberries have started producing has anyone started their rumpot off yet. Mine is already ready to go, just waiting for the ruddy strawberries on my plot.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[Lindsay]

Not yet.  Suppose I ought to get going.

I did one a couple of years ago, with cherries, apricots and figs, but because this year the cherries have been so disappointing I had completely forgotten about it!  I certainly had never thought about putting strawberries in - do please let us know how you prepare yours!

[Jeannine]

Hi Lindsay, I start with strawberries,then rasberries, blueberries,blackcurrants ,red currants,peaches,apricots  and cherries.

I don't put gooseberries, apples, pears or oranges,and definately not bananas.

XX Jeannine

[carolinej]

So do you just cover the fruit with rum, in layers as you get it?

I heard that you dont stone your cherries, as the stone becomes edible, is that true?

Would morello cherries be sweet enough to go in?

So many questions.....sorry :-[

cj :)

[Mrs Ava]

Ooo yes, enlighten me properly as mum has a pot, but I have never had a go.  As this is going to be a GREAT year for soft fruit for me, I would love to give it a whirl.

[Tin Shed]

Please tell me more - there is a rumpot jar for sale in a local charity shop and I am very tempted!

[greyhound]

How do you stop the fruit floating to the top and going black?

[Jeannine]

This is from my Rumpot ( Rumtopf) booklet..Normally begin with the first fruit of the season, the strawberry.Wash and dry carefully. Weigh the fruit and put in pot,put an equal weight of sugar on top, let it stand for an hour,then cover with Rum to about the depth of your finger,It is important that the fruit remains submerged all the time,you can carefully place a saucer or small plate on top of the fruit,it must be a good enough fit that fruit cannot slip past at the edges, the Rum will be on top of the plate.Keep the plate submerged by putting something weighted on top. I use a sterile jar filled with water and the lid screwed on tight,you can adjust the water level so that it doesn't sink but it goes low in the rum.Put clingfilm on the top then the lid. Keep adding fruits as they come along but only add half the weight of the fruit in sugar.Continue to add fruit and sugar till the pot is full. Captain Morgan Black Label Rum is the best to use.

Fruits to use.
Strawberries,peachesmplums,raspberries,logan berries,red currants,cherries, apricots,blackcurrants, blueberries,,I do use the last two and sometimes brambles but your liquid will be darker to you may not want to.

Don't use
Melon,
rhubarb
apple,
orange
pear'
gooseberries


Use only white sugar,castor or granulated

You can also use Brandy as they do in France

I remove the cherry stone with a hairpin,and the plums I halve , the peaches I 1/4 ,the apricots I halve

50% of the liquid must be rum so don't use watery fruit, you can top up if you wish

I aim for 1 pound of each of the fruits I put in

XX Jeannine

[Mrs Ava]

I assume you keep topping up the rum as you add the fruits?  Right, I am going to get mum to bring hers with her next week and we can start it off whilst I am recovering.  We will of course have to sample the rum before using it.  Would hate to use substandard rum.  ;D :P

[Jeannine]

The booklet doesn't say to keep topping up but I do a bit , it is important to not use fruit that is watery as it will dilute the rum. XX Jeannine

[emmy1978]

Oh Yes. Must get one of those.  ;D

[daisymay]

sorry to be really really dumb... but then what do you do with it? do you drink the rum? eat the fruit? both?

don't get it  ??? :-[

[Jeannine]

The fruit and alcohol goes wonderful on ice cream , pancakes and other desserts

[grawrc]

I'm told you can also use vodka but haven't tried it so can't speak from personal experience.

[Jeannine]

I bought a new one last year, very big,I think I still have the other other one if anyone would like it. It is stoneware, deep blue and grey. I think it is buried in my store cupboard outside,if anyone is interested I can dig it out.I don't think I have given it away.

XX Jeannine

[Jitterbug]

Jeannine

Can you post a picture of what this looks like - I have never heard of it before and am intrigued!!

Jitterbug

[Jeannine]

Will do.XX Jeannine