LEMON BALM CORDIAL

This recipe makes a lovely cooling drink in hot weather,it also has calming qualities and I do not recommend the drinking of this beverage if you need to be alert. It can also be made with lime flowers ,in which case it is even more soporific!

1 pint of chopped Lemon Balm/Melissa.

Juice and rind of 3 lemons

one and a half litres cold water

1 good teaspoon of citric acid.

Place the chopped leaves in to a basin with the grated lemon rind,boil the water and pour over the chopped leaves. Cover and leave overnight top brew.

Next morning add the lemon juice and the citric acid then drain through a jelly bag ans pour in to a large saucepan.

Add the sugar then bring to the boil,reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

Pour into hot bottles and label. If sterile bottles are used and the syrup is sealed at one it could keep for several weeks, once opened store in a refrigerator and use within four days.

If using Lime flowers you will need 1 litre of freshly picked flowers,the dried ones taste grim.

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