Rum pot is a method of preserving fresh fruit with rum or arrack and sugar.
To make it, ripe fruit is gradually placed over the course of the summer into a glazed earthenware pot with about the same amount of sugar and high-proof rum. The pot is stored in a cool, dark place, hermetically sealed.
What does Rumtopf mean in German?
"Rum" is the German word for rum and "Topf" means pot.
How to pronounce "Rumtopf"?
Listen to this audio file to hear how to say "Rumtopf" in German.
Listen to this audio file to hear how to say "Rumtopf" in German.
Best Fruit for Rum Pot - Follow the Seasonal Calendar
When processing fruit, there are a few crucial points to consider for fruit selection:
- Start with the fruit that is currently in season. Traditionally, you start with strawberries. After that, the rule is: whatever is ripe at the time can be added to the rum pot!
- The fruit should be ripe, but not overripe, i.e. still firm. You should avoid bruised or soft fruits or cut out bruises.
- The more different types of fruit, the more aromatic and varied the taste experience will be.
- The fruit must be clean and dry when adding to the pot.
- Always make sure that the alcohol is higher than the fruit.
- The fruit must not float on the surface, otherwise it will mold. To avoid floating you can place a small, clean plate on top of the fruit.
Specifics per fruit type - How to process the fruit?
- Add peaches and apricots without skin and without pit.
- Plums can be added with skin but without pit.
- Wash fruits and pat dry before processing.
- Cut large strawberries into halves.
- Use only firm, large raspberries and black berries.
- Remove stems from currants and blueberries.
- Cherries are best if you add them with pits to keep them in shape.
- Prick gooseberries and grapes with a needle before adding to the pot, so that they can absorb the rum.
Can You Use Frozen Fruit? Quick Rumtopf Variation!
You can make a "quick" rum pot version with frozen fruit. Add frozen fruit to a bowl. Sprinkle with sugar. Let thaw for 2 hours. Mix every now and then. Plenty of juice will form in the process. When fruit is thawed, stir in rum. Cover bowl. The rum pot should steep in the refrigerator for 2 days before serving. Poured into airtight jars will keep for a long time in the refrigerator.
Can Rumtopf go bad?
The rum pot keeps for about 7-9 months. Perfect timing, as you can start a new rum pot around the same time.
History of the Rum Soaked Fruit Delicacy
According to old stories, the history of the rum pot began with the transport of fruits and rum in colonial times with an old wooden barrel and spoiled fruits.
Because in those days the ships had to travel long distances for months, the precious southern fruits were often already spoiled when they arrived at the ships' home port and were to be sold at the markets.
By chance, however, some fruits fell into an old barrel filled with rum and were still preserved when the other fruits were already inedible. At the same time, the sailors also noticed that these fruits were not only durable, but also more aromatic, because they carried the aroma of rum. Thus, the preservation of fruits in alcohol was discovered.
Authentic German Zigeunersauce Recipe
Recipe
Rumtopf
Ingredients
Rumtopf Starter
- 1 bottle rum approx. 0,7 l rum 54%
- 1 ¼ pound strawberries 500g
- 1 ¼ cups sugar 250g
Additional ingredients over the next view months
- rum
- seasonal fruit and sugar (see details in recipe)
Instructions
- Wash about 1 ½ pounds of strawberries. Cut large strawberries into halves.
- Add rum and sugar to a clay crock and mix well. Add strawberry halves also to the crock and and carefully mix.
- Cover the crock with a lid and store it in a cool and dark place for a month. During this time, the alcohol reacts with the sugar and fructose in the fruit.
- About 1 month later add another pound of seasonal fruit of your choice with a cup of sugar. Fill up with more rum, approx. 1-inch above the fruit.
- Mix everything well and place back into a dark place for another month.
- Repeat this procedure every month until October.
- You can find some ideas for fruit in the article and some people add some walnut kernels.
- The rum pot keeps for about 7-9 months. Perfect timing, as you can start a new rum pot around the same time.
Notes
What Other Dishes Can I Serve With Rum Pot Fruits?
The rum-soaked fruit is delicious as a topping for ice cream, pudding or Bavarian Cream. However, you must be a little patient, because the delicious dessert will be usually enjoyed during the Advent time. (If you can wait that long)
Brenda says
Not knowing what I was doing, a number of years ago, I attempted Rumtof. I included frozen fruit or maybe canned fruit as well as fresh(can't remember which). The results was beautiful and delicious, so guess there is some room for error as long as you use alcohol and sugar and keep the mix covered with the alcohol. I want to try again and do it right this time. Thanks for your information, I needed it.
Angela Schofield says
It sounds like your first attempt at Rumtopf was quite the success, even with a little improvisation! That’s the beauty of Rumtopf—it's pretty forgiving as long as, like you said, you keep everything submerged in alcohol and sugar. Cheers to your next delicious batch, and I’m so glad the info helped!