StillSmart

I just wonder what is the purpose of the Lentils in a Lentil Wash,also what does the Tomato Paste do in a "Birdwatchers" Sugar Wash,it also says in the Birdwatchers to add "Epsom Salts",what does that do ?.Its just that i would like to know.

We need a balanced diet including our vitamins and minerals, and so do our yeasties.

If you add yeast to a simple sugar solution then fermentation will certainly start but won't get very far.

Adding nutrients, lentils or kale gives them the ammonium, magnesium, potassium and other stuff they need if they are going to finish the job.

0127frey wrote:I just wonder what is the purpose of the Lentils in a Lentil Wash,also what does the Tomato Paste do in a "Birdwatchers" Sugar Wash,it also says in the Birdwatchers to add "Epsom Salts",what does that do ?.Its just that i would like to know.

As GtF said, vitamins & minerals. In the original BW it includes lemon juice, the Epsom Salts do exactly the same job, lower the pH.
As well as adding nutrition, red lentils add a flavour similar to a mild Whisky taste, it used to be my preference when making Whisky washes until I went down the all grain route.

Having come from wine making where adding nutrient is pretty normal, it made sense to me. Fruit and fruit juice have enough nutrients built in to get to cider strength or a bit more (say 7%) in a reasonable time, while for a wine or a wash we want more like 12% and the yeast needs extra food for that. A sugar wash has no nutrients built in at all in it compared to fruit.

You can use yeast nutrient from your homebrew shop (normally diammonium phosphate), use a turbo yeast that already contains nutrient in the packet (not generally recommended here) or use a natural source such as the lentils/tomato paste etc.

The naturals are cheaper and generally "cleaner" in terms of end product, but can be slower.

@Curmudge.....such as the lentils/tomato paste/kale etc.
(Just thought I'd adjust what you said a little )

On another front and nothing whatsoever to do with distilling, couldn't help noticing on the last series of 'Great British Menu' that screened, the number of times that kale popped into the dishes on offer.....

As I haven't grown Kale for years now, but like it as a veg. I cannot believe the fact that it is now sold in supermarkets with the whole leaf chopped, stalky bits and all.
It takes 10 minutes to sort the edible from the crap before cooking.

Victor Meldrew

Well thanks Easydrinker,as a child i remember it being grown just for animal feed,and i have noticed that the Kale is being sold in Supermarkets as you say,stalks an all ready chopped.

Two sides to it.

There's good nutrients in the stalks as well though much less than in the leaves for sure. I'm loving eating the stuff and getting nutrients out of the water. Who'd be a farmer and having to cut half an inch higher?

Being Irish, I love my scallions (spring onions to most of you). An English friend came to visit and offered to help with food prep and threw all the green stuff out and just kept the bulbs. Next time they come they can drink they heads and tails!

GrunthosTheFlatulent wrote:We need a balanced diet including our vitamins and minerals, and so do our yeasties.

If you add yeast to a simple sugar solution then fermentation will certainly start but won't get very far.

Adding nutrients, lentils or kale gives them the ammonium, magnesium, potassium and other stuff they need if they are going to finish the job.

It's a well-known fact that everyone needs a balanced diet including vitamins and minerals. If you want to be healthy, you must eat healthy food.

I have a balanced diet.
Normally a pint in each hand
Serious though absolutely right,
yeast need nutrients just like
we do. Dead yeast cells, Kale,
Raisins, D.A.P., Vitamin B tabs
etc. Get the balance right and
you get the result.

It's a well-known fact that everyone needs a balanced diet including vitamins and minerals. If you want to be healthy, you must eat healthy food.[/quote]


Or even drink healthy drinks......