Herbal cordial recipe serves as a very tasty and invigorating means of taking in the naturalizing powers of herbs and benefiting from their health values. It is great, however, that once individuals get to know how to make easy herbal cordials, they can play around with flavors depending on their mood. In this article, we guide you with a very simple herbal cordial recipe, with some tips on enhancing its flavor and shelf life.
What Is a Herbal Cordial?
Before delving into the full recipe, it would be wise to narrate what an herbal cordial is. Cordials were originally designed for medicinal purposes; in modern times, however, they are also enjoyed as flavorful beverages.
Ingredients You Will Need
For basic herbal cordial preparation, you would require some simple ingredients like most two cups of fresh herbs (eg, mint, basil, lemon balm, or lavender), one cup of sweetener-as in sugar or honey-, two cups of water, one lemon-cut into slices, optionally, an assortment of one cup fruits (like berries or citrus slices), and one cup of apple cider vinegar-also for optional preservation use-also alcohol.
These ingredients are easily modified according to one’s preferences.
Stepwise Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Herbs
You’ll want to wash your fresh herbs well before you start so that you can get all the dirt and dust off them. After that, pat them dry with a paper towel. If your herbs have long stems, remove the leaves from the stems because the leaves are what generate flavor.
Step 2: Make the Herbal Infusion
Then, pour the water into a saucepan and bring it to a slow simmer. Add the fresh herbs, lemon slices, and fruit (if using) to the saucepan. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes to help the herbs and fruit release their natural flavors.
Step 3: Sweeten the Cordial
Add the herbal infusion, and then add sugar or honey. Stir until the sweetener completely dissolves. If you prefer a lighter sweet cord, you can add sugar or honey to taste.
Step 4: Strain and Cool
Once infused and the sweetener dissolved, remove the pot from the heat. Transfer the liquid to a clean glass jar or bottle using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the herbs and fruit. Allow cordial to cool completely.
Step 5: Optional Preservative
If you want your cordial to keep longer, you could include something like apple cider vinegar or alcohol in the mixture; one cup would do for either and add more depth of flavor alongside a longer shelf life.
Your Herbal Cordial: How To Use It
Now that you have your herbal cordial recipe ready, they can benefit in several ways:
With Water: Place a tablespoon or two of cordial in a glass of still or sparkling water, and enjoy.
Cocktail-Making Agent: This cordial can be the cocktail mixer in these cases: Pair it with spirits, gin, vodka, and rum.
Tea Sweetener: Add a splash of herbal cordial to your hot or iced tea fun for a tasty twist.
Drizzled Over Desserts: Drizzle a splash over a cake, pancake, or ice cream dessert to round out its flavor.
A Great Cordial Will Only Get Better
Here’s how to optimize your herbal cordial even further:
Have Fun With Different Herbs: You could also experiment with mixes for flavor combinations like rosemary and thyme or basil and mint.
Use Fresh and Quality Ingredients: The cordial is only as good as the quality of its ingredients.
Store Well: Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks at best if no preservatives are added.
Sweeten to Your Taste: If you don’t like your cordial that sweet, use less sugar and opt for more natural sweeteners like agave syrup or maple syrup.
Conclusion
Going through the process of making herb cordial is a fun and very creative process, with which you can concoct an amazing, refreshing drink. With very few ingredients and steps, the cordial can be made into a versatile drink for many occasions. Feel free to throw in your favorite fruits and herbs and get busy finding a delicious match to your palate. Cheers with refreshing homemade herbal cordial recipe!
