Who Knew Lilacs Make a Delicious Drink?!

And yes, lilacs are edible!

I love to forage and make things with what I find! It is, and always has been, one of my favourite hobbies. And every season presents different options, which provide endless fun! And yumminess :)

But I find that just as I get the hang of how to use a certain plant, the weather throws a punch, and that plant isn’t available.

I got very into making all kinds of things with elder flowers and berries, but now I haven't had a crop in 2 years. And this year isn’t shaping up to be much better.

Well, about a month ago, a friend turned me onto the possibilities of lilacs! Never have I done anything with lilacs beyond enjoying them in a vase. But I have a bunch on my property, so I was game to try using them in a new way!

Aren’t they pretty? And oh, that heavenly scent!!

I conducted some research to confirm that lilacs are indeed edible, and found that, sure enough, the flowers are edible!

So I set to work on trying something out.

This week, I will share experiment #1 -

Lilac Nectar!

This is very simple to make and is rather fun, and it feels like making potions as a child. Or maybe that’s just me :)

You only need about a week, and then it’s ready to drink!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lilac blossoms

• 1/2–3/4 cup raw (preferably local) honey (I like it less sweet and would do half next time)

• 1 lemon

• 1 litre of water

You need very little for this treat!

Here is what you need to do:

• Pick about a cup of lilac blossoms on a warm, dry day when the scent is strong

• Place in a glass jar or bottle (big enough to hold the ingredients)

• Add honey

• Squeeze out the juice of the lemon and add it to the jar

• Pour in the water, making sure there is space at the top

• Seal the jar and shake well (you need to dissolve the honey)

• Leave it to infuse for 7 days, but shake the jar daily

Looks kinda cool, right?!

This is how it looks as it sits and steeps all week. I was hoping it would stay purple, but nope.

At the end of the 7 days, it’s ready to drink! Pour it over a sieve into a clean bottle, chill and serve! It is a yummy nectar-like drink that tastes of spring!

It’s still kind of pretty, though, isn’t it!

*If you like it much less sweet and a little bit bubbly, it’s also great when mixed with fizzy water!

Mmmm, a lovely, yummy spring treat!

That’s all there’s to it! Make some today, if you still have the chance! And serve it to your friends. Trust me, they will be delighted by this unique treat!

Stay tuned for experiment #2 next week!