Homemade Tepache (Mexican Pineapple Ferment)

Tepache is a delicious Mexican fermented pineapple drink. If you have piloncillo instead of brown sugar, that works perfectly as well and is more authentic to the traditional Mexican recipe!

Video Chapters
00:00 - What is Tepache?
01:03 - Making Tepache - 1st Ferment
07:38 - Fermenting at Room Temp
08:29 - Bottling - 2nd Ferment
09:36 - Tasting
10:54 - Why I Always Chill Ferments Before Opening
12:00 - Adding More Carbonation
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Basic Tepache Recipe
*1 gallon -- as always with my recipes, this does not need to be exact :)

Rinse, peel and core 1 pineapple (use organic whenever possible)
Dissolve about 1 cup of brown sugar (or piloncillo/turbinado sugar) in a gallon glass jar (brew vessel) with some water.
Add 1/4 of the pineapple fruit (sliced) into the brew vessel. Also add the pineapple core and skin to the brew vessel. Add as much as will reasonably fit into the vessel while leaving room for water. If you have extra fruit + peels, you can make a larger batch! Just scale the recipe to double the sugar/water as needed.
Add enough water to top off the vessel and ensure the fruit is submerged.
Add a stick of cinnamon. (You can also add other ingredients like star anise, cloves, and ginger if you like.)
Stir it up to evenly distribute the sugar throughout the brew.
Cover loosely (barely a finger tight seal) with a lid.
Ferment (let it sit) at room temperature for approx. 1 week. You'll see the brew lighten in color and it may get a bit carbonated and more acidic. If you don't want it carbonated, the brew is ready to drink.
To carbonate, you'll need to go through a 2nd fermentation. Strain the solid pieces out of the brew and bottle the liquid in food-safe, pressure-rated bottles suitable for fermentation. Make sure the seal is airtight.
Let bottles sit and ferment at room temperature for 4-7 days (or more) depending on your carbonation preferences. This will vary depending on your room temperature and your particular pineapple, so you'll just need to experiment and adapt as needed to see what works for you.
Always chill thoroughly before opening a bottle (to ensure carbonation stays in the liquid).

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