A Warming Winter Cordial
Make a wonderful winter cordial which supports the digestive system and warms from within. Use as an after dinner liqueur or add a little to a glass of sparkling water. You can also use with your gin as the tonic.
Made with bitter juniper berries, ginger and rosemary . A simple warming healthy option.
Cordials are made mixing neutral spirits with natural ingredients like herbs or fruit. Some cordials are consumed neat; others are perfect for cocktails.
Cordials were initially developed to invigorate the body and spirit and were used to treat various ailments.
The benefits of cordials are many and these can be made with a variety of herbal ingredients and streamlined to suit the health issue you are aiming to repair. The can be antioxidants, immune boosting, antiseptic and hydrating.
Ingredients :
2 x 1 litre Glass jars
250 ml of fresh juniper berries or 160 ml of dried berries.
80 ml fresh orange peel or 60 ml of dried orange peel.
80 ml fresh rosemary leaves or 60 ml dried rosemary.
60 ml fresh ginger root or 30 ml dried root ginger. Not powder.
1 Litre of Gin or Vodka - enough to fill the jar. 750 mls might be enough.
Sweetener - Honey or maple syrup. You can use Stevia.
How to Make:
If you are using fresh herbs, chop the orange peel, rosemary and ginger finely. For dried herbs grind them to powder in a pestle & mortar.
Place the herbs into the glass jar. Make sure your jar is clean and dry. Water/moisture adds bacteria, mould and yeast to the jar and for this reason it must be dry.
Add the alcohol onto the herbs and make sure they are well covered.
Put a lid on the jar and add a label of contents. Add a date.
Store in a cool dark place to infuse for 1 month if well stored. Best kept in the fridge. Can be frozen to extend the shelf life.
Check the jar every few days, shake and make sure the herbs remain covered with the alcohol. You can top up if need be.
After a month strain the liquid into a new jar using a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Muslin also works. Discard the herb material. The remaining liquid is a tincture.
Add the sweetener. 1/2 part sweetener to 1 part tincture is suggested for making a cordial. use honey or maple syrup or make a simple syrup. This is made by dissolving sugar/ sweetener in water.
You can measure the volume of the tincture liquid and then add half as much sweetener.
Stir to mix well.
Store in a tightly sealed bottle or jar in a cool dark place. It does not need to be the fridge.
Keeps for a long time if well stored. +_ 3 months
Cordials are traditionally sipped after dinner in small glasses. Synonymous with liqueurs, cordials are the largest and most diverse category of spirits. Some cordials are consumed neat; others are perfect for cocktails. Consume in moderation.
