Does putting fig leaves in fig wine help it ferment faster?
Fig leaves do not accelerate the fermentation process of fig wine. Only yeast extracts, fermentation lees and nitrogenous substances in their ammonium, amide and amino forms contribute to a faster fermentation time. Fig leaves break down during the fermentation process, resulting in a cloudy wine, and offer no discernible benefit.References:American Journal of Enology and Viniculture: On the Activation of Alcoholic Fermentation in Wine MakingVirtual Wine: Fermentation ProcessUniversity of Maryland: Experiment NO.
