Homemade Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Another sunny day! I recently tasted a locally produced shop bought lavender lemonade from a local cafe, and was delighted by its unique combination of relaxing and refreshing. 

I was inspired to make my own following a recipe shared with me by one of my lovely social media connections @blessing_beads. It looked so easy and a great way to make use of my dried lavender supplies so I decided to make my own version. It turned out beautifully and with many requests now for the recipe I am sharing it here for all to enjoy.

Ingredients to make 1 litre jug (serves 3-4, simply double or triple to make more):

1-2 teaspoons dried lavender (to taste delicate - 1 tsp, strong - 2 tsp, use in tablespoons for fresh herb, more lavender colour if using more, of course), 1 litre water, 2 fresh lemons, honey to sweeten (or try stevia or plant based syrup for vegan alternative), tray of ice cubes, optional fresh mint or edible flowers for garnish & LOVE.

1. Make a lovely lavender flowers infusion. Stir in 1-2 heaped teaspoons according to taste to a cup or mug of boiled water. Cover with a saucer to keep the aromatic oils from evaporating off and infuse for 15-20min. Strain off the herb and allow the liquid to completely cool.

Lavender is a herbal natural remedy to soothe nerves, ease headaches, aid unsettled sleep, insomnia, calm the spirit. It also has anti inflammatory and antiseptic benefits, so not just a pretty face and beautiful scent. It has many applications internally and externally, but note that a little goes a long way. 

I add just a pinch to herbal tea blends (no more than 5-10%) for an added chill factor, to promote unwinding and relaxation. Just watching them float in the water while they infuse is a meditation in itself. Treat yourself a clear glass mug, cafetiere or teapot for this purpose.

2. Add 2-3 tablespoons of honey to suit your taste. Locally sourced raw honey is ideal if you can get it for additional therapeutic actions to support digestive, detoxifying and energy producing processes. Add it to the lavender infusion while it is still warm to dissolve it in easier, but not straight off the boil to help preserve its beneficial enzymes.

Most honeys are already pre-heated to high temperatures to strain off residues so you don't need to wait for the water temperature to cool if its not raw. Check with your producer to find out if you aren't sure. Small scale producers are less likely to do this, so pick some up at your local farmers' market. You can also taste the difference.

3. Slice 1 of the lemons into quarters and squeeze out the juice, straining it into a jug to remove the seeds and press out the pulp with the back of a spoon to extract all the juice.

4. Add the lavender honey infusion to the lemon juice.

5. Slice the lemon for garnish and add to the jug with a tray of ice cubes to cool and top up with water to make a litre's volume. 

You can simply put in the fridge to cool if you don't have ice, or pour into a sealed container secured by rocks in a cool stream for a while if you're out in the wild.

6. Add springs of mint if you wish. I tried this and found the strong mint flavour took away from the subtle taste of lavender, so preferred to garnish with a few foraged edible flower heads growing near me. 

Check out what's available where ever you might be located. I took this batch outside with me to enjoy while reading my book under the blossoming cherry trees in the park, so a cherry blossom garnish gave it an extra delightful touch of love.

There you have it... 

Sweet, simple and soothing sunny day refreshment, without the preservatives and the refined or artificial sweeteners of many shop bought versions, and made by your own fair hand makes it taste like something else. Make fresh batches as required. You can make up a pot or two of lavender infusion up to a day in advance for larger volumes. Cheers!

I'd love to hear your thoughts, how you liked it if you give this a try at home, or to receive your favourite tips how you make your own homemade lemonade extra special. You're welcome to comment below the blog or leave a note on any of the links below.

To your flourishing health and well being,

Fiona Morris 

Herbalist & Holistic Therapist

www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk

Herbal Wellness Plans | Courses & Workshops | Wild Remedy Walks

Holistic Body Massage | Indian Head Massage | Tea & Tarot Readings

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Love Potion No 1 - Rose & Pomegranate Elixir

This Valentine's Day I decided to get my family in the mood for love by treating them to pancakes for breakfast smothered in Love Potion No 1. aka homemade Pomegranate & Rose Honey Elixir. Here's how I did it so you can recreate it at home if you wish...

The first thing I did was to gather the most heart warming ingredients I could find in my kitchen cupboard. I offered them to the goddess, a reflection of our higher self, infusing them with heartfelt intention, extra potent love energy, and healing blessings.

My Love Potion ingredients included: pomegranate, rose petals, honey - a homemade gift from friends, lemon, water, cinnamon, cardamom, and the most important ingredient, LOVE.

Each item chosen for their sweet or citrus aromas, heart opening colours and emotional uplifting benefits, I first arranged the ingredients on a beautiful blue platter with some special stones lovingly gifted to me and bought myself, including rose quartz and ruby fuchite.

I sprinkled a handful of dried rose petals in to a half cup of water, adding a teaspoon or so of cardamom pods, couple of lemon slices, a stick of cinnamon and brought the magic pot of love to a simmer.

Reducing the gently simmering liquid to about half for about 10-15min, I used a masher occasionally to press and stir the concoction to release the juice from the pomegranates and break open the cardamom pods to release their flavour. I added a few more rose petals for luck.

I then poured the mixture into a bowl through a fine sieve, pressing the liquid out of the herbs and squishing any remaining pomegranate fruit with the back of a wooden spoon.

This left me with a ruby red infusion which I poured into a measuring jug to add honey to (for a vegan option you could try maple syrup, or get it back on the hob to melt in some unrefined sugar).

I added the warm ruby liquid with honey in equal parts, and stirred with spoon until completely blended, adding loving thoughts, wishes and gratitude for the people it's intended for.

And voila! A rose and pomegranate love potion concoction for St. Valentine's day. 

We enjoyed it as a syrup for pancakes. It was delicious and went down a treat...

There was even some left over to enjoy on Pancake Tuesday, and to add to smoothies to make them taste just heavenly! It's a lovely way to get a late winter immune boost with the lemon, cinnamon and honey too.

All the extra smells, colour and texture of the cardamom and cinnamon spices also added to the magic of the potion concocting! The lemon made it really good on the pancakes. The pomegranate gave the elixir a richer red colour than the rose petals do alone.

Although there is something to be said for the simplicity of pure rose syrup. I might try to keep it simple next time to get the full flavour of rose, but I personally can never resist adding a pinch of spice to give it a special twist.

Hope you enjoy giving it a go yourself. Feel free to make it your own with your favourite ingredients. A vanilla pod or star anis, for example, would give it a certain je ne sais quoi.

I'd love to hear what you come up with and your own creative ways to serve it to your dear ones.

Rose petals and cinnamon sticks,

Fiona Morris 

Medical Herbalist, 

Massage Therapist 

& AstroTarot Reader

www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk

Herbal Wellness Plans | Courses & Workshops | Wild Remedy Walks 

Holistic Body Massage | Indian Head Massage | Tea & Tarot Readings

Let's connect: Facebook l Twitter l Blog l Instagram l Pinterest

Click here to receive your Nourish & Flourish Love Letters 

Welcome to share with anyone who might appreciate it!

Getting Buzzy with Local Scottish Blossom Honey - Remedies, Recipes and Review of Hood's Honey

As a herbalist I am regularly prescribing concoctions of herbal teas and recommending the benefits of local honey to add a therapeutic touch of sweetness. So I was delighted to be given a complimentary pot of honey to review by Real Foods, one of Edinburgh's natural health heroes, health foods and organic grocery shops.

I noticed that Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey is not just Scottish but also local, based in the village of Ormiston, East Lothian, a stone's throw from Edinburgh. Box ticked! 

Here in Scotland, a reluctant spring has finally sprung! Local honey is a well known remedy to help reduce a sensitivity to spring and summer pollens. You may wonder, "Why is local honey good for allergies"? 

By adding local honey to your diet, you are introducing minute amounts of pollen and bee secretions that support your body in acclimatizing to the very flower pollens in the air that you will be exposed to. 

Take it regularly before and during the hayfever season. This can help minimise unwanted reactions such as sneezing, itching and streaming eyes, nose and throat. Try a spoonful in a cup of peppermint, nettle, chamomile, eyebright and elderflower infusions 3 x daily for a soothing summertime blend.

Sampling Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey straight off the spoon from its honeycomb shaped pot of delicately fragranced goodness, I was impressed by its smooth melting soft set texture. Then tasting it, I was equally pleased by its delicious and naturally sweet warming flavour, with hints of honeycomb wax. Tick, tick, tick!

Having done a little research on the interweb, I discovered that Hood's Honey is a small family run business that produces ethical bee products using traditional methods to very high standards, and has won every top award in Scotland. So, my taste buds were correct and I felt my halo shining a little brighter too. 

Founded by George Hood in 1950, it is now run by his son Stuart Hood. I was tickled to hear that Stuart's earliest memory is getting stung by a bee as a child while getting a bedtime hug from his father George!

Honey is one of the most ancient and remarkable of natural remedies. An Egyptian Papyrus found by Ebers in 1873 is the oldest known medical book in the world containing 800 medical diagnoses and remedies, with around half containing honey. 

A highly effective natural preservative, honey was used in ancient Egyptian times to embalm corpses. Honey has been found among other valuables in Pharohs' tombs, completely intact as honey does not go off! Even today honey is used medicinally as an anti-infective on wound dressings. 

If you are looking for ways to improve your diet, honey is a great sweetener to start swapping with refined white sugary products and to use in recipes that require sugar such as cakes and baking. The oligosaccharides in honey are associated with healthy gut bacterial growth.

Refined sugar is poor in nutrient value and promote inflammation in the body, so alternatives like honey are ideal while starting to reduce the amount of sugar intake. Having said that, honey is still a sugar and affects your blood sugar levels so it is best used in moderation and as part of a balanced diet as with most things.

Here are a few home remedies and tasty drinks recipes to try at home:

Colds and Flu Classic with a twist... Lemon, Ginger and Honey Chai

A warming cuppa with vit C rich lemon, anti-inflammatory ginger, expectorant star anis, analgesic cloves, carminative cardamon, circulatory stimulant cinnamon, and comforting antiseptic honey.

1. Add 3 cups water to a saucepan with peeled sliced or grated ginger (1 thumb-sized piece), stick of cinnamon, 3 cloves, 3 crushed cardamom pods, and 2 star anis. 

2. Bring to a boil and simmer partially covered for 15-20min.

3. Strain and pour into cup with honey and squeezed fresh lemon to taste.

4. Keep warm and cozy in bed and reheat to drink throughout the day. Get well soon!

Garlic and Honey Germ Blaster

When you are feeling under the weather and need an immunity boost, this anti-microbial combo helps to clear an infection or prevent it. The honey takes the edge off the pungent garlic flavour too!

1. Take 1 clove of peeled garlic and chop finely or put through garlic press.

2. Take a teaspoon of honey and mix in with the garlic.

3. Take the mixture straight off the spoon followed by a large glass of water.

Rosemary and Lemon Balm Memory Booster

A great combination to boost circulation and immunity: "Rosemary for remembrance" so the old saying goes. It's rich in reviving volatile oils. Lemon Balm has a lovely citrus flavour, especially when fresh, both have anti-viral properties and research which suggest a boost to the brain - fantastic if studying for exams or feeling fuzzy headed.

1. Put 1 large sprig each of fresh lemon balm and rosemary, or a half teaspoon each of dried herb into a cup.

2. Add hot boiled water and infuse covered for 5-10mins.

3. Strain herbs and add honey to taste. Enjoy an instant mental pick-me-up!

Peppermint and Honey Refresher

A nourishing and delicious cooling summer smoothie to relax in the garden and sip while watching the birds and bees.

1. Take 1 peeled avocado, 2 peeled kiwi fruits, a cup of natural live yoghurt, a large dollop of honey, a handful of nuts and seeds and a handful of fresh mint.

2. Put in a blender and blend until smooth.

3. Pour into a funky glass, garnish with mint or a slice of kiwi. Cheers!

Sweet Almond Milk and Honey 

Do you use dairy milk alternatives? Why not try this recipe and make your own at home? Use on cereals, in smoothies, as you would with dairy milks, or a refreshing drink on its own.

1. Soak 1 cup of almonds in a bowl covered with cold water overnight.

2. Strain off liquid.

3. Put soaked half of almonds in food processor or blender with 1-2 tablespoons honey and 3 cups pure filtered water, and blend.

4. Strain through muslin, clean tea towel or strainer.

5. Repeat with remaining almonds and 2 cups pure filtered water and add to initial mix.

Hope you feel inspired by these honey infused creations. Please do try them out... I'd love to hear how you got on with them, or get in touch to share your own favourite honey based recipes. 

All in all, Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey gets a big shiny gold star and thumbs up from me! 

Thank you Real Foods for introducing me to this lovely locally sourced and health-giving treat.

Fiona Morris is an Edinburgh-based Medical Herbalist promoting optimal well being and vitality at her holistic herbal health care courses, workshops, wild remedy walks and herbal wellness consultations. For more info about her practice and natural health events visit: http://www.fionamorrisherbalist.co.uk.

Gratitude to: 

Sheila, tea lady extraordinaire at Hanna Cherrie's Teashop (at Gorgeous, 29-35 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5BA) for providing the delightful tea ware and setting for the images above; and

Real Foods, for providing the Hood's Scottish Blossom Honey :)

Elderberry Immunity Boosting

Image courtesy of Forest Wander

As well as the glorious reddish golden leaves on the trees, Autumn can also bring sniffles, coughs and colds, so now is a good time to strengthen our immune systems.

The Elder tree’s gifts are of great value at this time of year. Elderberry Syrup is a traditional preventative and support for colds and flu with its antiviral properties. It’s delicious drizzled onto a warm bowl of porridge for breakfast or simply taken off the spoon.

Image courtesy of John Seb Barber

For a warming cuppa that packs an immune punch, 
try an exquisite Elderberry Herbal Chai.

Ingredients:
3 cups of water
1 or 2 star anise 
3 or 4 cloves 
3 or 4 cardamom pods 
few slices of fresh ginger 
2-3 slices of fresh lemon
stick of cinnamon
elderberry syrup

Bring three cups of water to a boil, then add fresh & dried herbs. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Strain off liquid into cups, stir in a teaspoon of Elderberry Syrup into each one, and share with loved ones. Enjoy!

Image courtesy of Liam Moloney

If you do end up catching a cold or flu, you can boost your immunity by taking the syrup 3 times daily and also try the classic dried herb blend of Elderflower, Peppermint and Yarrow to help cool the body and ease congestion. 

Image courtesy of Jan Kaláb

Infuse a teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of boiled water for 5-10min. Strain and drink 3-4 cups daily, adding honey and lemon to taste if desired (not suitable for use during pregnancy).


To your flourishing health & wellness,

Fiona

P.S. For more seasonal tips and remedies, you are warmly invited to my Edinburgh based Autumn Immune Boosting Herbal Workshops, or consider coming in for a holistic health check up and personalised herbal prescription at one of my herbal clinics.