Syrup
General description of the method; for a specific herb always check suitability, plant part and safety on its card.
Decoction or infusion with sweetener and reduction; shelf life depends on sugar and storage.
- Difficulty:
- Medium
- Preparation time (rough guide):
- About 20–60 minutes depending on recipe and bottle sterilisation.
- Equipment:
- Pot, thermometer (optional), sterile bottles, funnel, labels.
- General preparation safety
Under-concentrated syrup can ferment and mould. Do not give honey to infants (general guidance).
More detail
Syrups combine a herbal base with sugar or honey and often a short boil to concentrate and improve hygiene. Preservation depends strongly on water content, sugar level, and bottling practice.
Home syrups may fall under food rules; store in the fridge after opening per recipe.
Related methods
Methods are often compared — links below go to the detail page with short context.
Recipes in the catalogue
These herbs have a published step-by-step procedure for this method — full instructions are on the herb card under processing.
- BilberryBilberry leaf syrup
- BlackberryBlackberry leaf syrup
- Common bistortBistort rhizome syrup
- Common hawthornHawthorn flower syrup
- Common mallowCommon mallow leaf syrup
- Common thymeThyme syrup
- Dog roseDog rose flower syrup
- ElderElderflower cordial
- FennelFennel top syrup
- Great mulleinMullein flower syrup
- Ground ivyGround ivy syrup
- HyssopHyssop syrup
- Lady's mantleLady's mantle syrup
- Lemon balmLemon balm syrup
- Milk thistleMilk thistle flower syrup
- MotherwortMotherwort syrup
- Passion fruitPassion fruit syrup
- PeppermintPeppermint syrup
- RaspberryRaspberry leaf syrup
- Red cloverRed clover flower syrup
- Small-leaved limeSmall-leaved lime flower syrup
- SpearmintSpearmint syrup
- Stinging nettleYoung nettle leaf syrup
- White dead-nettleWhite dead-nettle syrup
- Wild pansyHeartsease flower syrup
- Wild thymeWild thyme syrup
Herbs in the catalogue
Published herbs that list this method on the card.
Showing 31 of 147 — 31 herbs in the list
- Açaí palmEuterpe oleracea
- BilberryVaccinium myrtillus
- BlackberryRubus fruticosus
- Blue agaveAgave tequilana
- Common bistortPersicaria bistorta
- Common hawthornCrataegus monogyna
- Common mallowMalva sylvestris
- Common thymeThymus vulgaris
- Dog roseRosa canina
- ElderSambucus nigra
- FennelFoeniculum vulgare
- GingerZingiber officinale
- Great mulleinVerbascum thapsus
- Ground ivyGlechoma hederacea
- HyssopHyssopus officinalis
- Lady's mantleAlchemilla vulgaris
- Lemon balmMelissa officinalis
- Milk thistleSilybum marianum
- MotherwortLeonurus cardiaca
- Passion fruitPassiflora edulis
- PeppermintMentha × piperita
- Prickly pearOpuntia ficus-indica
- RaspberryRubus idaeus
- Red cloverTrifolium pratense
- Small-leaved limeTilia cordata
- SpearmintMentha spicata
- Stinging nettleUrtica dioica
- TamarindTamarindus indica
- White dead-nettleLamium album
- Wild pansyViola tricolor
- Wild thymeThymus serpyllum