A process for obtaining a composition for the preparation of alcoholic beverages based on Heliopsis longipes plant, the process comprising the following stages:
- cleaning by immersion;
- hydration by immersion;
- cutting by immersion;
- bark tearing by immersion;
- maceration;
- and
- preservation;
- Wherein:
- the step of cleaning by immersion includes:
- removing impurities from the plant and cutting roots to a length between 1 and 2 cm longer than a container where it will be macerated;
- the step of hydration by immersion includes immersing the root in water at a temperature between 30° C. and 37° C. for at least one hour, ensuring that the Heliopsis longipes root remains completely submerged;
- the step of cutting by immersion includes:
- aligning the plant to form bundles weighing approximately 10 to 40 grams of biomass, wherein the bundles are trimmed so that the bundles measure about one or two centimeters longer than the container in which they will be placed to release their organoleptic, wherein the bundles are formed underwater to avoid oxidation of Heliopsis longipes, wherein the Immersion is carried out using softened water under any of the following conditions:
- II1. temporary (carbonate) hardness is removed by boiling the water and adding between 10 and 39 grams of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) per liter, keeping the Heliopsis longipes root submerged for at least one hour;
- II2. using demineralized water or water filtered by reverse osmosis (RO), activated carbon, ceramic, or zeolite filters to reduce mineral content and water hardness by at least 50% per liter;
- II3. using pure water adjusted with calcium salts to produce hard water—defined as water with a high content of minerals, particularly magnesium and calcium salts, wherein the water has a hardness greater than 120 mg/L CaCO3 and is prepared by boiling the water, maintaining the boil for at least five minutes, and allowing calcium carbonate sediment to form, after 2 to 3 hours, the CaCO3 settles and the water is decanted;
- the step of bark tearing by immersion includes keeping the Heliopsis longipes roots a fully submerged, when the roots show overhydration and irregular swelling from excess water, the roots are rubbed to induce tearing of the outer bark, the overhydration facilitates the release of lactic acid, affinin, and lignin due to molecular disruption of the root, wherein because of the water, the heat, and the time promote decomposition of lactic acid, affinin, and lignin, the bundles are removed from the water, dried with a porous material, and pressed to eliminate excess moisture, pressure is applied to close the bark tears caused by friction during this step;
- the maceration includes:
- macerating the Heliopsis longipes bundles in an alcoholic solution with a concentration between 10% and 45%, the roots must be completely dry, as trapped moisture may accelerate decomposition, causing changes in color, texture, and flavor, as well as the loss of properties through oxidation of lactic acid, affinin, and lignin, the roots are cut into pieces about 1-2 cm longer than the container so that they slightly protrude, and are placed in a solvent with at least 35% alcohol by volume, in a proportion of about 0.5 to 10 grams of root per container, for 15 to 45 days at 25-35° C., then the alcoholic extract is separated and stored;
- and
- the step of Preservation includes:
- mixing the extract obtained from the previous step with an alcoholic vector in a concentration between 10% and 45% alcohol;
- wherein the alcoholic vector is a plant-based spirit such as tequila, rum, vodka, gin, cachaça, or pisco, with an ethanol concentration above 30% v/v, the root must remain immersed to prevent mold proliferation, inside the container, the root must remain bent so that the tears formed during previous steps reopen and rehydrate with the alcoholic vector, which absorbs the organoleptic properties of Heliopsis longipes, then the bundle is inserted under pressure to keep the root folded and the bark openings exposed.