Can I interest you in a glass of homemade sweet violet syrup? Here’s a fun and beautiful spring recipe you can make at home with love. We enjoyed taking ours to the beach and it only needed a splash of sparkling water to make it the perfect seaside drink…
One of the first gentle signs that Spring has arrived is from these cheerful purple blooms. This shy little plant and its heady scent is sprouting all over our garden and hedgerows at This Home Grows. Sweet violets are likely to be growing somewhere wild nearby you as well!
I wanted to celebrate them before they disappear for the season – so here’s a way you can infuse them into your outdoor gatherings for months to come. And did you know, violets have magical powers? Yup, it’s true. You heard it here first at This Home Grows. They’ll change colour when adding lemon juice and kids will love this trick. Go on, give it a try!
You will need:
- 1 cup hand-picked violets.
- 1 cup of sugar.
- 1 cup of water.
- Squeeze of lemon juice.
- Sterlised Bottle. You can buy this Kilner bottle here.
Using the violet’s delicate petals to make the most romantic, floral and colourful syrup to preserve for your enjoyment. Homemade sweet violet syrup will keep for up to 6 months when refrigerated and it’s super easy to make. Mix water, sugar and lemon and infuse with violet petals for flavour and colour et voila (aha!) you have your syrup. It’s perfect in cocktails or mocktails – you can add the syrup to lemonade or sparkling water for a refreshing spring drink! We’d highly recommend adding a cheeky splash of gin or champagne for the grown-up version! 😉 It’s even delicious in cakes or drizzled over puddings.
Violets can be found lining Britain’s hedgerows and woodlands, growing wild and mostly unnoticed usually under a canopy of shrubs and trees. You’re looking for wild violets and these typically have a little bit of gold in the centre. If you’re unsure then try RHS and Woodland Trust for help with identification.
Make sure you aren’t picking violets where the soil has been treated with anything that you shouldn’t ingest. Remember you don’t need a lot to make magic with your violets. Please leave plenty for the butterflies, as they’re an important source of nectar :).
How to make:
- For the best results remove as many stems and leaves off the violets. The petals alone will give that grapey floral taste so it’s worth taking your time. Once foraged and greenery removed, put into a heat proof container.
- Bring one cup of water to the boil and pour over the violet petals. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours. The liquid will turn into a clear blue with a slight lavender hue.
- The next day, pour the liquid with petals into the top of a bain-marie (double boiler). I used a saucepan with an inch of water over medium heat and set another pan on top but you can use a heatproof bowl.
- Add the sugar to the liquid and petals. Bring this to a low simmer allowing it to gently heat the syrup mixture. Stir often until the sugar dissolves. Try not to let the mixture boil as you’ll lose the vibrant colour.
- Strain the syrup through a meshed sieve to remove the flower petals.
- Add a really good squeeze of lemon juice and watch the magic happen, turning the liquid to a lovely magenta.
- Let the syrup cool before transferring into pre-sterilised glass jar(s) and store in the fridge for up to 6 months. For a simple guide to sterilising, check out the BBC Good Food easy method.
Don’t forget to label! Out came my new stamp from The English Stamp Company and my old letter stamp set. An absolute favourite, if you’re into your crafting! I use stamps all the time for making gifts and this beautiful Grow With Love stamp adds a personal touch to something homemade and grown at home! It was such a thoughtful birthday pressie from my friend. I hope as a thank-you she’ll enjoy drinking homemade sweet violet syrup cocktails with me in the summer!?
This homemade sweet violet syrup is an easy one to love and is sure to put a spring in your step! Let me know what you mixed with your syrup in the comments below. Grow yourselves a happy drink :).