A guide through Ukrainian moonshine brewing culture

How Soviet bans led to innovations at home, from the perspective of Nastia's grandmother.

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Water, jam, carrots, and bay leaves seem like a strange combination at first glance.

You might think you can't cook anything decent from this mix. 

But such a recipe exists. This is how my Grandma (‘babusia’ in Ukrainian) makes moonshine... right at home.

Such clandestine “laboratories” are quite common in Ukraine, and were even more widespread in the Soviet era. 

The legacy of brewing moonshine offers a unique perspective on how social behavior adapts to authoritarian control, a compelling study of both resilience and rebellion.

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And in the comments below: what’s your favorite moonshine story?