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.
- Alchemilla vulgarisLady's mantle syrup
- Crataegus monogynaHawthorn flower syrup
- Foeniculum vulgareFennel top syrup
- Glechoma hederaceaCleavers syrup
- Hyssopus officinalisHyssop syrup
- Lamium albumWhite dead-nettle syrup
- Leonurus cardiacaGround ivy syrup
- Malva sylvestrisMarsh mallow leaf syrup
- Melissa officinalisLemon balm syrup
- Mentha spicataCorn mint syrup
- Mentha × piperitaPeppermint syrup
- Persicaria bistortaSilverweed rhizome syrup
- Rosa caninaDog rose flower syrup
- Rubus fruticosusBlackberry leaf syrup
- Rubus idaeusRaspberry leaf syrup
- Sambucus nigraElderflower cordial
- Silybum marianumMilk thistle flower syrup
- Stinging nettleYoung nettle leaf syrup
- Thymus serpyllumWild thyme syrup
- Thymus vulgarisThyme syrup
- Tilia cordataSmall-leaved lime flower syrup
- Trifolium pratenseRed clover flower syrup
- Vaccinium myrtillusBlueberry leaf syrup
- Verbascum thapsusMullein flower syrup
- Viola tricolorHeartsease flower syrup
Herbs in the catalogue
Published herbs that list this method on the card.
Showing 25 of 142 — 25 herbs in the list
- Alchemilla vulgarisAlchemilla vulgaris
- Crataegus monogynaCrataegus monogyna
- Foeniculum vulgareFoeniculum vulgare
- Glechoma hederaceaGlechoma hederacea
- Hyssopus officinalisHyssopus officinalis
- Lamium albumLamium album
- Leonurus cardiacaLeonurus cardiaca
- Malva sylvestrisMalva sylvestris
- Melissa officinalisMelissa officinalis
- Mentha spicataMentha spicata
- Mentha × piperitaMentha × piperita
- Persicaria bistortaPersicaria bistorta
- Rosa caninaRosa canina
- Rubus fruticosusRubus fruticosus
- Rubus idaeusRubus idaeus
- Sambucus nigraSambucus nigra
- Silybum marianumSilybum marianum
- Stinging nettleUrtica dioica
- Thymus serpyllumThymus serpyllum
- Thymus vulgarisThymus vulgaris
- Tilia cordataTilia cordata
- Trifolium pratenseTrifolium pratense
- Vaccinium myrtillusVaccinium myrtillus
- Verbascum thapsusVerbascum thapsus
- Viola tricolorViola tricolor