Did you know you can make your own Natural Cola Syrup by using Southernwood? Mix it with sparkling water and enjoy (you might even want to add a splash of gin).
This is another recipe from my witchy kitchen! This year my balcony garden made me feel like a modern-day witch with me drying herbs for the winter, gathering seeds for the next years, making herb-infused spirits, and using herbs to make syrups.
I may have been a witch in one of my past lives because plants make me so happy and I feel deeply at peace working with all kinds of botanicals.
This year, I had a good harvest of Artemisia abrotanum also known as southernwood or southern wormwood, so it was time to make Natural Cola Syrup.
Southernwood is native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of North America. In the last couple of years, I feel this plant has gotten more popularity due to its cola-like taste (it's even called cola-kraut or eberraute in german) so it will be easier to find it in garden centers.
How to make Cola Syrup
The ingredients
You will need:
- Fresh Artemisia abrotanum, southernwood, lad's love, southern wormwood, or whatever you want to call it.
- lime juice (or lemon)
- sugar (I am using brown sugar, but white sugar works too!)
- water
The basic steps
I usually mix 1 cup of sparkling water with 1 tablespoon of syrup, but you can add more or less for your preferred sweetness and intensity.
More syrup recipes
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I hope you enjoy this Natural Cola Syrup as much as I do! Let me know if you give it a try!
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Cheers, Bianca
Natural Cola Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 cups southernwood only the green part, no stems (30g)
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Harvest your southernwood. Only use the green parts, not the stem, it's easy to pinch the leaves off. Give it a quick wash and pat it dry.
- In a large pot, heat the sugar, lime juice, and water.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, add the southernwood. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes with the lid on.
- Once the southernwood has lost most of its color, set the pot aside and just let the mixture cool off for an hour.
- Pour the syrup through a strainer to remove the southernwood leaves.
- Fill the syrup into a clean glass jar and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Mix it with sparkling water and enjoy. I usually mix 1 cup of sparkling water with 1 tablespoon of syrup, but you can add more or less for your preferred sweetness and intensity.
Laura says
Could use dried southernwood instead of fresh?