Linden flowers and their fragrant syrup

To prepare a delicious lime flower syrup, start by carefully washing the lime flowers in cold water. Make sure to remove any impurities or insects. After washing, let them drain in a sieve or on a clean towel. From these flowers, gently detach only the inflorescences, as the small leaves nearby can give the syrup a bitter, unwanted taste.

Once you have prepared the flowers, place them in a pot with boiling water, letting them boil for about 20 minutes. It is important for the water to remain hot to extract all the flavors from the flowers. After 20 minutes, set the pot aside and cover it, allowing the flowers to macerate for 24 hours. This step allows the flavors to fully develop.

After letting the flowers macerate, separate the liquid by pressing the flowers. Use a double cheesecloth to filter the decoction, passing it through several times to obtain a clear and aromatic liquid. This step is essential to remove any flower residues and achieve a fine texture.

In an enameled pot that you should not abandon, start inverting the sugar. Boil it together with 400 ml of water and a pinch of lemon salt for 10 minutes on maximum heat, stirring constantly. During boiling, a gray foam will appear on the surface of the syrup; it is important to collect and discard it.

Once the sugar has completely dissolved, add the concentrated tea obtained from the lime flowers, as well as the salt and, if desired, lemon zest or vanilla sugar for extra flavor. Let the mixture boil on high heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces by half. Finally, do not forget to remove the lemon zest if you used it.

Bottle the hot syrup in well-cleaned glass bottles that have been sterilized beforehand. Cap the bottles and immediately wrap them in blankets or thick towels to cool gradually. Leave them covered for 1-2 days to stabilize the flavors and cool completely. After the syrup has cooled, label each bottle with the name of the syrup and the preparation date, then store them in the pantry, where they will wait to be used for indulgent moments or to add a touch of refinement to drinks. This lime flower syrup is not just a refreshing drink but also a natural remedy full of health benefits, being ideal for hot summer days or to sweeten hot teas in the cold season.

 Ingredients: For approximately 3 liters of syrup: -1.5-2 kg of linden flowers, only the inflorescence -2 kg of granulated sugar -4 liters of water -4 sachets of citric acid (20 g) -1 pinch of coarse salt -4 sachets of vanilla sugar, optional -peel cut into large pieces from 1 organic lemon, optional

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