eliseinherbaland Jan 23 2024
In my world there's honey and then there is infused honey!
And for one who has never been overly fond of sweets (I know....a bit of a quirk and I cannot count the number of incredulous faces received in response to this "sweet tooth" deficiency!) the discovery of infusing honey has made all the difference in how I now seek out this sticky treasure!
I guess it's my inherent virgo compass!
Drawn moreover to the natural and its possible health benefits, and actually the quite fabulous creative outlet it serves as (since the limit of infusing variations are really only limited to my imagination)! And...maybe a tiny bit (or a lot a bit) as well that jars of infused honey are just so pretty!
Notations
Not intended as a cure nor for small children and as always please consult your health provider before use.
Using Raw Unfiltered Local Honey and a ferment of at least three weeks works best for me. Raw Unfiltered helps me get a more pure product that is not cut with some random syrup and also has not been heat treated multiple times over. Local helps me acclimate to my environment. And allowing to ferment gives time for ingredients to really come together and reach more potential.
This recipe uses blueberries (a personal preference but can be interchanged with other dried antioxidant berries such as blackberries, raspberries, cranberries etc,)
All berries, herbs and ingredients should be absolutely very well dried/dehydrated!
The Adventure Begins
It was not a sniffle nor a cough not even a wee little sneeze that propelled today's sticky adventure!
But, as is told, books' stories are not always predicted by their cover!
It turns out that cold season comes with more than just an occasional runny nose!
Seems its seasonal parallel to post fall harvest/holiday and increased indoor time brings as well an over abundance of baked, dried, pickled or otherwise preserved goodies courtesy of the year's acquired crops!
Said over abundance being the operative mention and the true culprit for today's sticky adventure!
Comparative terminology...When life gives you (excess) dried blueberries make infused honey!
In come my lovely and healthy creation! Elise's Berry Boogie Bomb!
Why Honey?
Honey is a nature form of sticky sweet gold!
A rich product made via certain bees through their miraculous ability to use their own bodies (and a lot of teamwork) to self refine nectars they gather from plants.
Or in the short.. a product of said certain bees regurgitation (as in their spit, vomit whatever you would like to call it)!
It's through this process that honey gets a lot of its benefits.
A few Honey (Raw Unfiltered) known Benefits
anti-oxidant
anti-inflammatory
anti-bacterial/microbial
anti-fungal
vitamins and minerals, polyphenals, and aminos
May help with health related issues such as metabolic stress, wound healing, burns, infection, provide natural energy
Possibly benefit respiratory, cough, sore throat, skin, digestive, oral
And honey is highly known and used as a natural perservative!
Why Blueberries (or berries in general)?
I mean besides having an acquired overabundance thereof! And being simply delicious and a personal fave!
Blueberries are considered a superfood with a long history of use and benefits as are most safe edible berries.
Blueberries just happen to be higher on the nutrient and benefit scale.
In general, some of most known Berry Benefits (those safe for consumption)
contain antioxidants, flavanoids, vitamins, minerals, and fiber
are anti-viral and anti-inflammatory
Berries may also possibly help with health areas including aging, oxidative stress, metabolism, chronic diseases, heart, respiratory, digestive, detox, and more!
Elise's Berry Boogie Bomb Recipe
Supplies
You will need a clean sealable jar for this recipe. (I prefer to use a 32 oz. widemouth)
Nods before starting
Not intended as a cure nor for small children and as always please consult your health provider before use.
Using Raw Unfiltered Local Honey and a ferment of at least three weeks works best for me. Raw Unfiltered helps me get a more pure product that is not cut with some random syrup and also has not been heat treated multiple times over. Local helps me acclimate to my environment. And allowing to ferment gives time for ingredients to really secrete and come together and reach more potential.
This recipe uses blueberries (a personal preference but can be interchanged with other dried antioxidant berries such as blackberries, raspberries, cranberries etc,)
All berries, herbs and ingredients should be absolutely very well dried/dehydrated!
Ingredients
1-2 16oz bottles/jars Raw Unfiltered Local Honey
(dry ingredients)
1/2 cup dehydrated blueberries
1 small sliced dehydrated lemon
3 whole dried cayenne peppers
1 dried licorice root stick
1/8 cup dried ginger rhizome
1 tsp/sprig dried rosemary
Method
Place all dry ingredients into clean jar and pour honey over ingredients until fully submerged making sure honey makes its way throughout all ingredients and all the way to the bottom and until at least a half inch of honey is above ingredients
Seal well and allow to infuse/ferment in a semi-sun warm place making sure to flip the jar once every day or so.
After infuse/ferment of at least three weeks (more time can be alotted according to personal preference) strain out the dry ingredients and store in a cool dry place.
Can be served by spoonful and is great in tea or drizzled on toast, crackers etc. Enjoy!
Elise's Adventures In Herbaland©
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