Is there anything better than a ice cold drink on a summer's day?
Someone made me a bottle of lemon cordial from my lemons and it was a lovely gesture, but I simply can't do a lot of sugar. I would rather water than a sugary drink!!
I do love generous squeezes of lemon in icy water too. But with a huge lemon verbena tree, it was time to get a little more creative! If you'd like to know more about the benefits of lemon verbena, here's a link. From helping with joint pain, digestion, candida and muscle pain, this strong scented lemony herb is worth getting into the diet. I'm a huge believer in adding herbs to our diets in all kinds of ways to nourish, assist and heal.
All one needs to do is make a strong lemon verbena tea, say two litres of it in a pan, wait til it is lukewarm, add a few tablespoons of honey to taste and a pinch of salt, and squuuueeeze lots of lemons in there. Bottle and pop in the fridge! Dilute to taste - this one diluted about 1:3.
Of course, you can add lots of different herbs for various benefits and tastes. Lemon juice gives it the nice cordial kicker, but you could try adding calendula too, or tulsi.
Before long my fridge was full of various herbal cordial concoctions. My latest is lemon, elderberry, blackcurrant, tulsi and ginger. So good!
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Every day I glare at my lemon verbena. All three of them. They are bushes and need a serious prune. But I don't have the heart or time for that chop. The elderberry is in bloom and also needs some attention. I wonder what the combination would be like as a cordial? Some things just seem like way too much work. I love popping peppermint or lemon verbena in iced honeybush tea but cordial.......hmmmmm
Lemon verbena and elderberry would be perfect!!!! Let me know how it goes. I assure you you'll thank me once you are sipping on that ice cold drink!!
I had soooo many elderberries but the starlings decimated them. Gutted.
Really?!! We have starlings but they don't go near my elder. Mind you, we have NEVER had a single elderberry. Are there male and females? Or are the starlings feasting on the sly?
Hm. Do you get flowers? I don't THINK there's male and female, nt in my knowledge!
Yes! Plenty. Covered with flowers right now
Nice
I love lemon verbena! One of my very favorite scents. I get a plant or 2 each year and they get very big, for New England.
Fantastic. What do you make with them? I heard it's nice in custard too!
I've not made anything besides tea, potpourri, and herbs for the chickens, I'm afraid...
Tea for the win!!
Oh my, wonderful, @riverflows !! I am very glad to get this inspiration from you, which I can adapt to the herbs around here: we do have lots of lemons, and a big lemon verbena bush down below - I took cuttings from it and hope it grows bigger this year - it needs a sheltered spot... Mmmmmmmmm - yuuummmm.
Oh yes do it!! And let me know what it turns out like. You'll love it, promise!!
The sugar free lemon cordial sounds delicious and I would love to taste the lemon verbena tea. But, I have had my dentist totally against drinking lemon juice as it can eat into your teeth. Have you heard this @riverflows?
I love lemon verbena perfume, it is so fresh to wear.
Oh piffle. Do you have something wrong with your teeth for him to say that? If you are worried, simply rinse with water. I've never experienced this issue and I drink ACV with water too. Lemons are on earth for us to drink them.
Hahaha, nothing wrong with my teeth either and I have always rinsed my mouth after a lemon juice enjoyment. And yes lemons are very good for you.
Then your dentist is a dick 🤔😱😱🙊🙊🙊🙊
Apart from being beneficial for the health of the body, lemon has a very distinctive taste and is delicious, I agree with you that too much sugar will not give the perfect taste. Thank you very much for sharing.
No worries! I hope you can try!
Sure, I'll give it a try. thanks
As I read through this, I was already salivating and wishing I could have that lemon taste in my mouth. It's been a while I had chill lemon juice. This one looks so healthy.
It's so much better without all the sugar!! I get cravings for fresh juice too.
My friend has a lemon tree in her house and uses them daily. I will have to share this with her!
It's a really good use of excess lemons!
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STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
the truth is that there is nothing better than a hot day accompanied by a cold drink
Adding tulsi?? You got me. 😊
Hmmmm.... this seems like a serious "gotta get busy" nudge. Local mountain honey is something I like to buy from the mountain folks, but honestly, we eat very little sweet stuff and almost no bread/toast. So this is a great idea!!
I know right? Sugary drinks are awful but you know when you fancy a sweet tasty drink? And only about a tbsp of honey a litre.... So good. Been sending it to work with Jamie so he drinks more water.. a man can't live off just tea, as I tell him!
I really could go for a glass right now... melting away behind my screen here! But no lemon verbena in the garden. But we have lots of fresh lemongrass and pandan leave. have a beautiful day! Oh, and I am 100 percent with you. I rather drink plain water than having a sugary drink. Even if it is homemade.