Color of Hay: Maramures 1
Tuica Makers, Sarbi, Maramures, 2000
In every proper home, there must be enough tuica (tswee-ka) to serve every person who visits, as well as enough to drink a shot before every meal. Tuica can cure many ills and maintains a healthy appetite.
Plum tuica is considered the best.
In the autumn, each family mashes the bounty of their orchards into fermenting vats as tall as a full grown man. Through the winter, a healthy dollop of yeast does its job. When early spring warms the vats, it is time for a family to begin their distilling work. It always takes a pair of people, one to tend the fire, and the other to crank the stirring handle. They must be diligent about cranking or the pressurized pulp will burn. Both of them will keep each other awake as the double-distilling process takes over thirty six hours.
And of course, it must be tasted to insure proper quality.
