Hydrating, low-glycemic-index Grape Juice Drink

This is a refreshing, hydrating drink.  Besides ginseng tea and Ayurvedic Vata tea I scarcely drink anything else.  I even pack it with me in a small thermos when I go out.

Ingredients

• Two litres of Dewlands (or similar) grape juice
• 5 big lemons or 3 lemons and 5 limes
• 1 rounded teaspoon of un-heat-treated, organic honey
• 1 rounded teaspoon of xylitol
• 1/3 tespoon of pure stevia crystals or 50 drops of stevia liquid (to taste)
• three large capfuls (about 8 tablespoons) of liquid aloe vera
• 2 1/2 litres of water (remove the flouride in countries foolish enough to still add flouride)

Equipment

• a five-litre container with a spout
• small strainer
• citrus squeezer (a manual one is fine)
• two small pouring cups (measuring cups)

Method

When you are down to your last litre of grape juice drink, decant it from the five-litre container into a one-litre container.  Fill the five-litre container with hot tap water, turn it upside down and let it sit over night.  That prevents a build-up of dried grape juice at the top of the container.  You will occasionally need to add a teaspoon of bleach to the water.  When you are ready, the next day, to make the grape juice, use the water (if no bleach) to water your plants - or similar.

At the same time that you decant the grape juice drink into the smaller container put two litres of the Dewlands grape juice into the fridge to start chilling.

After emptying the cleaning water from the five-litre container fill it with two litres of purified (de-flouridated) water and set it aside.

Boil a small amount of purified water and measure 1/3 cup into a measuring cup.  Let it cool a little then add the honey, stevia, aloe vera, and xylitol.  Set it aside.

Juice the lemons (and limes) then strain them once into a measuring cup. Use little extra purified water to make sure I get all the lemon juice out of the juicer.

Pour the lemon juice and the sweetening mixture into the five-litre container (with the 2 1/2 litres of purified water).  Give the container a little shake and put it in the fridge.  Do Not add the Dewlands grape juice to the water until the water and the grape juice are both chilled or the mixture will ferment slightly and taste a little sour.

Later when everything is chilled, add the Dewlands grape juice to the container and give it a little shake.

Its nice to keep a chilled mug or two in the freezer.

Drink it whenever you feel the slightest bit thirsty.  Sometimes it will satisfy you even if you think you are hungry.

Remember to keep a supply or Dewlands (or other good brand) grape juice and lemons and limes on hand.