Tartar: what is it, how to get it, advantages and disadvantages
Tartar is a precipitate in the form of burgundy or brown crystals that fall out during winemaking through fermentation, aging, and processing.
What is tartar used for?
It is needed as a raw material for the production of tartaric acid, in cooking (baking), textile dyeing, and electrochemistry.
Most often, crystals form at the bottom of barrels, sometimes on the walls, during aging.
Tartar can also appear on the corks that close glass bottles with aged wine.
Due to the long (sometimes up to several years) formation, the cost of tartar is quite high.
Before the stone goes on sale
It is processed to remove impurities that are formed during fermentation.
The crystals are poured with boiling water and dried clay, raw egg white and a small amount of ordinary charcoal are added to the container.
After dissolving all the components, the resulting mixture is passed through a sieve, then crystallized. This procedure is carried out until the crystals turn completely white.
Real tartar is called cream of tartar or wine-potassium salt
Ingredients: potassium tartrate and potassium hydrogen tartrate (tartaric acid). Available in hypermarkets, pharmacies.
How to get a wine stone yourself
It is necessary to keep wine at a temperature of +3-5 C for 2-3 months before bottling.
Then gently pour off the product, leaving the crystals in the vessel. Depending on the amount of impurities, the precipitate contains up to 40-80% acid.
The precipitate is removed by pouring into another vessel. When it stops appearing, the drink is clarified.
This way, you can always get a small amount of crystals when decanting young wine.
It also settles on the walls of the barrel, in which the young wine undergoes repeated fermentation and becomes stronger, richer in taste.
Advantages and disadvantages of tartar
The advantages of potassium wine salt in the content of a large number of minerals. The product contains:
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Potassium - perfectly cleanses the body of toxins.
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Iron is an essential component for humans, which is involved in the formation of healthy blood, and perfectly copes with fatigue.
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Magnesium, which regulates blood glucose levels, helps to normalize heart rate, as well as lower blood pressure. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, digestive systems and is involved in the creation of strong bone tissue.
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Iodine, which is necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and hormonal levels in general.
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Beta-carotene - a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents the development of malignant tumors.
Crystals in their finished form are substances that cannot harm a person. However, in case of stomach disorders, they should not be consumed in large quantities.
Update: 11.11.2019
Category: Wine and Vermouth