Homemade Gift Idea: Herbal Syrup with "Root Beer" Syrup Recipe from Herban Wellness
It's Homemade Gift Week! Start early for maximum holiday fun with minimum holiday frazzle. Previously in the series: Lime & Cardamom Rum from Cicchetti, Flavored Sugars from Herbivoracious & Urban Pantry, Sweet Macadamiana and Limoncello from A.J. Rathbun, Simple Gifts & Cowboy Cookies from Jennifer Worick.
Check out these herbal syrup ideas from a recent class I attended at Kirkland's Herban Wellness. An herbal syrup would make an excellent and creative gift for anyone with a home carbonator or an interest in mixology. Plus they are simple to make!
This summer, when I saw Groupon offering a discount on classes at Herban Wellness, I snatched it up. I knew I would be taking two cocktail classes this fall, so it just seemed like my civic duty to offset that with some health-related activity.
Herban Wellness is an herb store in Kirkland, founded and run by Katya Difani, who has a Bachelors in Herbal Science from Bastyr. The store is relatively new - started in the summer of 2009 - and offers several classes on making your own herbal body scrubs and bodycare, preparations for kids, foot soaks, herbal teas and more.
Herban WellnessThe class I attended was called Herbal Syrups, Honeys, & Infusions. (If you're reading this on Friday and are interested, she still has room in the Saturday October 9, 10am class for $25. It will also be repeated on Thursday, November 11. Call 206-330-2171 to sign up!)
After walking us through the basic process of making an infusion (simmer the herbs in water until that has reduced, strain out the herbs, add a sweetener and cook down the liquid even further until you have a syrup), Katya took us over to the wall of herbs and gave us a primer.
Sassafras rootWe reviewed how different herbs can be used as healthful tonics, and smelled and tasted some to get a sense of how they might flavor various syrups. Katya also took the time to answer our specific questions; I was curious about good herbs for asthma, so she was sure to point some out that might be helpful.
We also made a delicious herbal honey with rosehips and cardamom, which was very simple to make as well.
I was focused on the syrups, though, especially after smelling the sweet and earthy sassafras root. I had to take some home in order to make my own "root beer" syrup. As Hank Shaw notes in his own version recipe, this isn't a true "beer" but mixed with sparkling water, makes a tasty similar beverage.
Burdock rootIt might also be fun for a cocktail lover to experiment with...maybe mix it into some vanilla vodka for a reverse root beer float?
Below is Katya's recipe for her "Get Rooted Syrup." It's delicious! You might also consider adding a little coriander seed; Hank Shaw uses that in his syrup and it adds a nice element as well. You can fine the herbs at Herban Wellness, and if you have any questions, ask Katya, she's very helpful!
Get Rooted Syrup
from Katya Difani of Herban Wellness
Makes about 1 cup
This is a rich, earthy syrup reminiscent of cream soda or root beer. Enjoy in sparkling water at a lakeside picnic or in the evening while watching the sun go down.
- 2 Tbl anise seed
- 1 Tbl sassafras root bark
- 1 Tbl sarsaparilla root
- 1 Tbl burdock root
- 1 tsp orange peel
- 1/2 tsp ginger root
- 2 cups water
- 1-1.5 cups sugar (white sugar will allow more of the taste of the herbs through, but you can try less refined sugars, agave nectar, or honey, as you prefer)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Combine all the herbs in a small port, cover with water, bring to a simmer and keep on low for 1/2 hour of so until the mixture has cooked down to about 1.5 cups.
- Strain out the herbs.
- Return the liquid to the pan and add sugar/sweetener.
- Cook down until mixture is reduced to about 1 cup or until thickened slightly.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Add 1-5 Tbl to each cup of sparkling or hot water and enjoy!
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Reader Comments (2)
Thank you, Leslie, for posting this information and sharing my syrup recipe with your readers! I am happy to know about your blog and will be reading upcoming posts with interest! And happy creating out there to all who like making their own products at home!
Thank you, Katya, for sharing the recipe with all of us! So tasty!