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Spring Herbal Cleansing Tonic

Julia
This herbal spring tonic syrup is made by simmering five nourishing herbs into a concentrated blend, then sweetening it with iron-rich molasses for depth and sustenance. Stir two tablespoons into warm milk for a grounding morning drink, or shake it over ice with your preferred plant milk for a cooling afternoon tonic. Make a jar at the beginning of the week and return to it whenever the season, or the world, feels like too much.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 20

Equipment

  • 1 large cooking pot
  • 1 stirring spoon
  • 1 fine mesh strainer
  • 1 cheesecloth optional
  • 1 Airtight container for storage

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon dried dandelion root
  • 1 tablespoon whole cardamom pods
  • 1 tablespoon oatsraw
  • 2 tablespoons lemon balm
  • 2 tablespoons of dried rose hips
  • 3 tablespoons of dried nettle
  • 6 cups of filtered water
  • 1 cup of molasses
  • 1 cup milk or non-dairy milk

Instructions
 

  • Pour the water into a medium-sized pot and add the dandelion root, cardamom pods, oastraw, lemon balm, and rose hips. Bring the water to a boil, then lower it to a simmer. Cook for 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the nettle leaves. Cover the pot and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and stir in the molasses until well combined.
  • Place a sieve over a large bowl and pour the cooled tonic through it to strain out the herbal ingredients. Discard the herbs and bottle the tonic into one large or smaller individual airtight jars.
  • To enjoy, pour 2-3 tablespoons of the tonic into 1 cup of warmed nut or regular milk. The tonic can also be enjoyed when mixed into cold milk over ice. Sip and enjoy as an afternoonn or early evenong beverage.

Notes

  • Swap the dandelion root for burdock root, which offers a similarly earthy, cleansing quality with a slightly milder bitterness.
  • Add astragalus root for a different take on immune support and an energy boost.
  • Make it dairy-free: Use oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk in place of regular milk.
  • Oat milk tends to complement the earthiness of the herbs most naturally.
  • Add a cinnamon stick or a few slices of fresh ginger to the simmering herbs for an extra layer of warming spice, particularly nice on cooler spring mornings.
  • For a caffeine-free energy lift, add a small amount of dried ashwagandha root with astragalus for an extra adaptogenic boost.
Keyword herbal drink, herbal tonic, spring equinox