Description
Homemade dandelion delight syrup combines wild foraged flowers with sweet honey for a uniquely floral liquid treat. Crafted carefully from sunlight-kissed meadow blossoms, this simple syrup invites you to savor wild botanical essence.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups dandelion flowers (clean, pesticide-free)
- 4 cups water
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) lemon juice
Instructions
- Harvesting: Collect pristine dandelion blossoms from untreated, chemical-free landscapes, selecting fully bloomed, vibrant yellow flowers during their optimal state.
- Preparation: Cleanse flowers under gentle water stream, meticulously removing debris and tiny creatures, then delicately dry using pristine paper towels. Separate golden petals from green stems, gathering only soft, luminous yellow sections into a clean saucepan.
- Infusion: Submerge dandelion petals with filtered water, heating on medium-high until reaching a gentle boil. Reduce temperature and simmer for 30 minutes, allowing floral essences to permeate the liquid thoroughly.
- Straining: Position cheesecloth-lined fine-mesh strainer over a pristine vessel, carefully transferring infused liquid. Press flower petals gently to extract maximum flavor essence, then discard botanical remnants.
- Sweetening: Reintroduce strained liquid to saucepan, incorporating granulated sugar and fresh lemon juice. Elevate heat to medium-high, stirring consistently until achieving a rolling boil, then decrease to a gentle simmer.
- Reduction: Maintain consistent stirring while cooking syrup for approximately 50 minutes, monitoring transformation into a luxurious, glossy consistency with rich amber hue.
- Bottling: Remove from heat, allowing 12-15 minutes cooling time. Utilize a clean funnel to transfer syrup into sterilized glass containers, sealing tightly. Cool completely at ambient temperature before refrigerating, maintaining quality for three weeks.
Notes
- Harvest Wisely: Choose dandelions from areas free of pesticides, pollution, and pet traffic to ensure pure, safe syrup.
- Petal Perfection: Remove green parts completely; only bright yellow petals create the most delicate, sweet flavor profile.
- Boil with Care: Watch the syrup closely during reduction to prevent burning or caramelization, which can alter the delicate floral taste.
- Storage Strategy: Use sterilized glass jars and refrigerate immediately to maximize freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Drinks, Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg