Russian cranberry drink (Mors)

1. Pick over and wash the cranberries (thaw frozen ones).

2. Crush them thoroughly in a bowl with a potato masher or wooden spoon, then press the juice through a fine sieve or cheesecloth; put the juice in the fridge.

3. Put the skins and seeds left in the sieve into a pan, pour over the water, bring to the boil and simmer gently for 5 minutes.

4. Strain the liquid (discard the pulp) and let it cool to about 40 °C; then stir in the honey and lemon juice – never add honey to a boiling liquid.

5. Pour in the reserved raw cranberry juice, stir and chill thoroughly in the fridge.

6. Serve ice-cold in a jug; in winter you can serve it lukewarm too.

Tip: Mors was the drink of old Russian monasteries and is still known as a folk remedy for colds and fever: the raw berry juice keeps its vitamin C, while the infusion gives the full-bodied, tart flavour.