Use Honey To Turn The Last Of Your Summer Berries Into A Sweet, Long-Lasting Condiment

With summer comes berry season, and using up your berries before they go bad can be a difficult task to complete. Before you throw the last of your summer blueberries out, there's an easy way to turn them into a long-lasting condiment. Ferment your blueberries in honey for a delicious and tart topping to your meals. There are many ways to use fermented honey, such as making the alcoholic beverage mead, but this fermented condiment may just be easier to make. The process involves placing your blueberries into a Mason jar and pouring honey over them. There's no cooking or difficult steps involved in fermenting your berries, which makes it the perfect easy recipe.

When creating your fermented berry mixture, be sure the honey completely covers all the blueberries. The liquid from the blueberries is enough to start the fermentation process, so these two ingredients are all you will need. Raw honey is a natural probiotic that ferments when diluted, which is why this process works. However, if you're planning to save this mixture for a while, use a 2% salt brine to prevent molding. There are many ways to upgrade your pancakes and using this condiment as a topping may just have to be added to the list.

Once your blueberries are coated with honey in the jar, it's time to ferment. It's best to place the lid loosely and keep the jar in a dark pantry or cabinet out of the sunlight. Each day, tighten the lid and flip it to evenly coat the blueberries. The fermentation process will begin within a few days, and you'll notice bubbles beginning to form. You can eat the blueberries any time after fermentation begins, though the flavor will continue to develop over time. It's best to store them in a pantry, but if you're looking to slow the fermenting process, you can place them in the fridge. 

Blueberries aren't the only option for this recipe — you can use any berry of your choice. The mixture will last months, so you can enjoy this treat for a while. Fermented honey blueberries are the perfect topping for pancakes, yogurt, ice cream, or oatmeal. After all, honey is a versatile condiment, and there are many unique ways to cook and bake with it. The fermented honey berry concoction is not only easy to prepare, but long-lasting, and it's a must for your pantry this summer.