Mors (Russian Cranberry Fruit Drink)
Local name: Морс
In short: A tart, ruby Russian drink of crushed cranberries simmered with water and sugar, served cold in summer or warm in winter. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 80 kcal
Mors is a berry drink made across Russia from cranberries or lingonberries, crushed, pressed and simmered with water and sugar. It is much tarter than bottled juice and has a deep ruby color. Cooks press out the raw juice first, simmer the pulp briefly and combine the two, which keeps the bright flavor. Families serve it chilled with summer meals and warm during winter colds, and children drink it all year.
Instructions
- Rinse the cranberries and mash them with a potato masher in a large bowl until all the berries have burst.
- Tip the mashed berries into a fine sieve set over a jug and press hard with a spoon to extract the juice. Cover the juice and refrigerate it.
- Put the pulp in a saucepan with the water and sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Strain the hot liquid through the sieve into a clean jug, pressing the pulp lightly. Discard the pulp.
- Stir in the reserved raw juice and the lemon juice. Taste and add more sugar if it is too tart.
- Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least 1 hour. Serve over ice, or warm it gently for a winter drink.
Tips
- Adding the raw juice at the end keeps the fresh flavor, which long cooking dulls. Do not boil the combined drink.
- Lingonberries, blackcurrants, sour cherries or a mix all work well. Adjust the sugar to the sourness of the fruit, since cranberries need a generous amount.
Questions and answers
What is mors?
Mors is a traditional Russian fruit drink made from crushed berries, water and sugar. It is served chilled in summer and warm in winter, and it is much tarter than juice.
Can I make mors with frozen berries?
Yes. Frozen cranberries work as well as fresh, and many Russian families use them all year. Thaw them first so they are easy to mash and press.
How long does mors keep?
Covered in the fridge it keeps for up to 4 days. Stir before pouring, because sediment settles at the bottom.
How long does it take to make Mors (Russian Cranberry Fruit Drink)?
About 25 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mors (Russian Cranberry Fruit Drink)?
About 80 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 20 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 80 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 3 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
