Concentrated Acacia Flower Syrup
To prepare a delicious drink from acacia flowers, we need to ensure that we have all the necessary ingredients and steps to achieve an exceptional final result. We start by thoroughly washing the acacia flowers, making sure to remove all impurities. It is important to carefully clean them by cutting the flowers from the clusters, so that we obtain only the tender and fragrant petals. Once the flowers are clean, we place them in a spacious container.
In a separate pot, we bring water to a boil, being careful to use the amount specified in the recipe. When the water starts to boil, we take it off the heat and add the sugar, stirring with a wooden spoon until it dissolves completely. It is essential to let this syrup cool slightly before adding the acacia flowers, so as not to destroy their delicate aroma. Once the syrup has cooled, we introduce the cleaned flowers, gently stirring to evenly coat them. This mixture will need to sit for 24 hours, allowing the flowers to release their aroma and sweet taste.
After the 24 hours, it is time to strain the obtained liquid. We use a fine sieve or cheesecloth to separate the flowers from the syrup. It is recommended to gently press the flowers to extract all the liquid and aroma from them. The obtained liquid is placed in another container, and the used flowers can be discarded or, if desired, can be used in other recipes, such as cakes or sausages.
From the total amount of liquid, we take 250 ml and bring it back to the heat. We add the 3 teaspoons of lemon salt, stirring constantly until it completely dissolves. This ingredient will add a note of freshness and will help preserve the syrup. After the lemon salt has dissolved, we take the pot off the heat and add the mixture back over the rest of the liquid.
To serve this delicious refreshing drink, we pour the syrup into clean bottles, ready to be consumed. It is recommended to serve with still water or mineral water, without adding any other additional ingredients. The proportions can be adjusted according to everyone's preferences, but it is good to start with a few tablespoons of concentrate and adjust to taste. It is served cold, in tall glasses, with ice cubes and, for an extra touch of refinement, we can add fresh mint leaves or, for an elegant look, we can use brandy glasses with the rims dipped in granulated sugar, decorated with fresh acacia flowers. This drink is not only refreshing but also a true visual delight, perfect for hot summer days.
Ingredients: 650 ml water, 3 cups (660 g) of sugar, 2 cups (150 g) of acacia flowers, 3 teaspoons of citric acid (1 teaspoon = 1 packet = 5 g - total 15 g)
