Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped dried holy basil/tulsi, thyme, mullein, licorice, elecampane, ginger
- 4 cups filtered water
- 1 cup local raw honey or sugar, adding more or less to taste
- 1⁄4 cup brandy (if making elixir)
Prep Time:
1 hour
Number of Servings:
Makes 3 cups of syrup
Directions
- Bring herbs to a rolling boil in a pot with filtered water. Partially cover with a lid and turn heat to low so herbs can gently simmer but not boil. Let this decoction reduce to about half.
- Once the decoction has reduced to about half, remove from heat. Cover the pot with a lid and allow herbs to steep in pot for 15-20 minutes.
- Strain out all herbs. Once strained, this is your concentrated decoction. Place strained decoction back on stove and add honey or sweetener of choice.
- Keep on low heat and stir to help the sweetener incorporate. When using honey, use low heat, as high heat breaks down beneficial enzymes.
- If making elixir, add brandy now. Once sweetener has fully dissolved, let it cool, pour in glass jar or amber bottle(s), and keep in fridge. Enjoy as you wish!
Notes
A syrup is a water-based preparation sweetened with local raw honey or raw sugar. Syrups are great for kids, when someone is sick, or to mask the flavor of unpleasant-tasting herbs. An elixir is a syrup with alcohol, usually brandy or vodka, which is added at the very end. Excerpted from Radical Remedies: An Herbalist's Guide to Empowered Self-Care by Brittany Ducham (Roost Books; 2021)
