Recipe for: Blueberries in Buttermilk (refreshing blueberry drink)

Rinse the berries in cold water: place the berries in a colander, rinse with several portions of cold water, and set aside for 1–2 minutes to drain excess moisture. Inspect the fruits and remove any green stems or overripe pieces. Gently dry the fruits with a clean cotton cloth or paper towel to avoid diluting the drink too much.

Try the berries: taste 1–2 fruits to assess the level of sweetness. If the berries are very sour or you want a sweeter drink, prepare honey (optional). Measure about 40 g of honey (about 2 heaping tablespoons) and have it ready.

Blend the berries with buttermilk: pour 1000 ml of chilled buttermilk into a blender jug, add 300 g of cleaned berries and (if using) 40 g of honey. Blend on high speed for 30–45 seconds until the mixture becomes uniformly smooth and takes on a consistent purple-cream color. Stop blending when there are no visible pieces of fruit left.

Optional straining for smoothness: if you want the drink to be completely free of seeds and skins, pour the blended mixture through a fine sieve into a clean pitcher. Use a spoon or silicone spatula to push the pulp through the sieve — press gently until only dry mass remains. Straining will take an additional 1–2 minutes.

Chill and serve: if the drink is not cold enough, place the pitcher in the fridge for 5–10 minutes or in a bowl of ice. Pour the drink into tall glasses, 250 ml per serving (a total of 4 servings of 250 ml). Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint (optional) and serve with ice cubes if you want a stronger refreshment.

After preparing, rinse the blender and containers immediately with water to easily remove fruit stains. If you used a strainer, rinse it under running water and gently scrub it with a brush.