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The beautiful scent of lilac is probably known to everyone. It drifts through the spring air and makes the environment where it grows more pleasant. Did you know, however, that lilac flowers are edible? Now is the right time to gather them and steep them in honey. You will have jars full of fragrant health and the pleasant scent of lilac even in winter!
Effects of lilac honey
- anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
- relieves sore throat
- can speed up metabolism
- helps with headaches and migraines
- soothes an irritated stomach
- reduces tension
- has unique beauty effects too – it slows premature skin aging
- contains natural UVA and UVB protective substances, thereby protecting the skin from damage
Gathering lilac flowers
It’s best to pick the flowers from your own lilac bushes so you can be sure they haven’t been chemically treated. If they have been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides, do not use them. When harvesting the flowers, focus on those that are fresh and haven’t started to brown or fade yet. For this recipe you need about 4 – 5 large clusters of flowers.
How to make lilac honey
- Making lilac honey is very simple. If you don’t have a lilac, you can also use violet, calendula or lavender flowers. First, pick or tear off the flowers so that you use only the flower parts and not the stems.
- When you have a jar full of flowers, pour honey over them so that the flowers are completely submerged.
- Let the honey settle for a while until it reaches the bottom of the container. When the honey sinks, you can top it up.
- For a short while the lilac flowers will float to the top, which is perfectly normal.
- When the flowers have been soaked in honey for several hours, they will slowly shrink and form a thinner layer on top of the jar. This process is shown in the picture below.
- Close the jar with a lid and let it steep in a cool, dark place for several days to weeks, stirring occasionally.
How to use lilac honey
You can consume the honey together with the flowers, or you can remove the top layer of flowers with a spoon and consume only the honey itself.
This infused honey is very tasty and fragrant. You can use it like regular honey in tea, on pastries, waffles, etc. It will keep in the pantry for several months. Another great idea is to make, for example, honey butter. Simply mix the honey with softened butter and you’ll get an amazing spread.
