Cloverleaf Farm

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Natural Living and Herbal Healing

How To Make Herbal Syrups

Ingredients to make herbal syrupDid you know that you can take an herb, almost any herb, and make an syrup from it?

How about Elderberry Syrup? Or maybe Mint Syrup? How about Elderberry Mint? So many herbs, so little time.

Many herbal syrups are used for healing. Elderberry syrup is a great syrup to have on hand during cold and flu season for that extra Vitamin C and immune boosting. Peppermint syrup is wonderful for tummy distress.

Herbal syrups are also great on pancakes, waffles, and even ice cream. You can even use the syrup in cocktails, as a glaze for ham, or as a topping for ice cream. There are numerous ways for you to use an herbal syrup. If you are daring enough, you can even mix herbs together to come up with some gourmet syrups. Pick the herbs that you enjoy in a tea, and blend them together. You will be surprised at what delicious herbal syrups you can come up with.

Making a syrup from herbs is easy, and takes very little work. It only takes about an hour of your time, and you’ll then have the best tasting syrup you will have ever tried.

 

To make an herbal syrup:

  • 2-4 heaping tbs of chosen dried herbs. Some favorite herbs we use to make syrups are Calendula, Elderberry, Mint (both Peppermint, and Spearmint), Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Ginger and Rooibos.
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar (or 1 cup honey)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Make a strong infusion from the herb. Add the sugar, and simmer on low for about 20 minutes. Strain the herb. Rinse out the pan to get any herb stuck on the side.

Now, return liquid to pan. Simmer on low for about 30 minutes, or until it has thickened to your taste.

NOTE: Syrup will thicken as it cools. Don’t cook it too long, or you will go to the candy stage. It thickens faster if using honey. Adjust times accordingly.

Pour into a clean, heat safe glass jar. Let it cool, and then refrigerate until use.

Now, if you want to can a bunch of syrup to can for later use, or to give as gifts use your favorite canning recipe. Most canning recipes make 6 pints or close to that. Some canning recipes can be doubled.