After covid, I developed an irregular heart rate. Instead of running to the doctor, I monitored it closely and added herbs promoting heart health. This led me to hawthorn berries. If you read our hawthorn berry herbal profile, you know they have an array of medicinal benefits such as:
- Rich in antioxidants
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- May lower blood pressure
- May decrease cholesterol
- Used to aid in digestion
- Helps prevent hair loss (this was a bonus for my telogen effluvium)
- May reduce anxiety
After researching and falling in love with hawthorn berries, I started incorporating them into my foods, leading to my first functional dessert – Hawthorn Berry Brownies. I mention this because I topped the brownies with my first homemade syrup, which I’ll be teaching you how to make today — Hawthorn Berry Syrup. This syrup is amazing anywhere you’d normally use syrup or honey, even in tea.
Hawthorn Berry Herbal Syrup
Ingredients & Materials
- 1 ½ cups filtered water
- ½ cup hawthorn berries (I used these)
- 1 cup of honey (I used raw honey)
- 16 oz. mason jar
Directions:
Step 1: Combine ½ cup of hawthorn berries and 1 ½ cups of filtered water in a saucepan.
Step 2: Bring the water and hawthorn berries to a boil and let simmer for 30 minutes (this process is a decoction water extraction). After simmering, the liquid level should have reduced to roughly 1 cup.
Step 3: Strain the liquid before adding it back to the saucepan.
Step 4: Allow the decoction to cool down before adding equal parts (1 cup) of honey to the decoction while it’s still warm (adding while it’s hot could result in losing some of the honey’s medicinal properties). Be sure to mix the honey into the decoction until the honey is dissolved.
Step 5: Set the syrup aside to cool down the rest of the way before pouring the honey into an airtight container for long-term storage.
Usage & Storage: Take 1-2 teaspoons up to three times a day (I love it added to tea). It will last about one month when stored in the refrigerator. It has gone bad if you notice a rancid smell or visible mold at the top.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended as medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and nothing in this post is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. If you have questions, please do your own research or seek advice from a health professional.
