Fizzy Lilac Cordial Recipe
Fragrant, tangy, and fizzy, this spring drink is an enjoyable way to incorporate fermentation into your diet. Lilac flowers and citrus give it a nice flavor, while ginger adds digestive soothing properties.
Servings: 8 cups
Cost: $10
Equipment
- Large glass jar
- Mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 8 cups purified water
- 3 tablespoons organic raw honey
- ¼ teaspoon active yeast
- 2 fresh lilac inflorescences, rinsed
- 1 organic lemon, cut into slices
- 1 organic grapefruit, cut into slices
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
Instructions
- In a large glass jar, combine the water, honey, and yeast, and mix until the honey is dissolved.
- Add the citrus, ginger, and lilac flower; stir to combine.
- Cover the jar without tightening it, and place the jar on the kitchen countertop or outside in the sun.
- Stir it at least once a day with a wooden spoon.
- After 48 hours, it should be fizzy enough, but leave it longer if you want more, until it gets the desired fizziness.
- Strain and transfer into glass bottles. Keep them in the refrigerator.
- Serve chilled with lemon slices.
Notes
Organic honey is a good fermentation starter because it's basically a combination of yeasts, nutrients, and sugar. If you want to get more bubbles, you can add just a pinch of active yeast to stimulate fermentation.
To make this vegan, substitute agave nectar in place of the honey and use active yeast to kick off the fermentation process.