Grandma’s Love Potion: A Little Blueberry Wine and a Touch of Finnish Magic

Every family has its traditions, its treasured recipes, and perhaps a few secrets passed down through generations.

But not every family has a love potion.

Grandma’s Love Potion was our blueberry wine, inspired by an unusual Finnish folk preparation with an even more unusual name: Lappish Hag’s Love Potion.

According to the tradition that caught our attention, the original potion was made from wild blueberries, water, and sugar, left to ferment in the warmth of the sun. It was a wonderfully rustic idea, combining simple ingredients, old-fashioned fermentation, and a generous helping of folklore.

We were intrigued.

There was something appealing about the notion of a blueberry wine associated with romance, northern traditions, and a little magic.

But we thought the name could use some improvement.

After all, Grandma’s Love Potion sounded considerably more inviting than Lappish Hag’s Love Potion.

And so Grandma was born.

From Finnish Folklore to New Jersey Blueberries

Although our inspiration came from Finland, the blueberries came from much closer to home.

We sourced them from a family-owned blueberry farm in Hammonton, New Jersey, a region well known for its blueberry-growing heritage.

Our 2022 Grandma’s Love Potion was made entirely from blueberries, without the addition of wine grapes.

We approached the fermentation with considerably more control than the rustic method described in the Finnish folk preparation.

The blueberries underwent a long, cool fermentation in bins, followed by approximately nine to twelve months of aging in stainless steel tanks.

The finished wine contained 13% alcohol and 2.5% residual sugar.

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