Churchkhela (Georgian Walnut 'Candles' in Grape Must) 🍇

Método

1. 1

   Thread walnuts tightly on cotton in pairs, 20–25 cm rows with a loop at one end. Pack them shoulder to shoulder — gaps become bald patches.

2. 2

   Bring the must to a simmer. Stir in the tqebi paste, then the flour slurry, whisking constantly until it coats a spoon like thick glaze, 8–10 minutes.

3. 3

   Dip each strand, rolling it under the surface, and lift; re-dip two or three times while warm until the coating is pencil-thick.

4. 4

   Hang in a cool draught for 3–7 days to case-harden; the ends can be trimmed. The shell should snap, the inside stay fudge-chewy.

5. 5

   Cut into coins when set. Georgian grandmothers sell them by the meter in October; with a glass of mulberry vinegar, it is autumn's official closing ceremony.