DIY Floral Syrups for Your Cannabis Mocktails
I'm home from a quick trip to Taiwan to send my grandmother off into the afterlife in peace. It was a bittersweet but meaningful experience and I was glad to stand there amongst all her grandchildren, performing Buddhist funeral rites.
On the last day, I booked an appointment to add another piece to my "spice rack" tattoo collection. I added osmanthus blossoms (桂花) to honor the strong matriarchs in my family. Osmanthus smells intensely like ripened apricots, is a symbol for love, and is used in various teas and desserts in Taiwan. These flowers are in full bloom during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival which also happens to land on my lunar birthday.
I brought a bag of dried flowers home to infuse into syrups for my mocktails. I'm using a no-heat method to preserve the aroma of the delicate flowers--it takes a little longer to infuse but it's worth it. If you can't find osmanthus blossoms, feel free to use another fragrant flower like dried lavender or rose buds.
Medicated Floral Syrup
Makes about 1.75 cups
Ingredients
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup osmanthus blossoms, or other aromatic florals
• 1/2 cup medicated honey, you can use Potli or Sous Weed
Directions
1. Add 1/2" of sugar to a mason jar. Then drizzle a Tbsp of honey on top.
2. Sprinkle osmanthus blossoms on top of the honey.
3. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used but be sure to end with a layer of white sugar at the very top.
4. Seal the mason jar and store in a cool dark place. Wait 1 week for full syrup infusion. Use to sweeten tea, desserts, or mocktails.
