Winter Spiced Oxymel

Ingredients

Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw Honey

Warming Herbs + Spices

Optional: Organic Orange Rind

At this time of year, I love to work with herbs like Ginger, Star Anise, Allspice, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Clove, and Cinnamon. Keep a look out for seasonal berries like Juniper, Hawthorn, Rose Hips, Highbush Cranberry, Sea Buckthorn, and Elderberry to add to your oxymels. I made my winter spiced oxymel with a blend of Ginger, Cinnamon, Hawthorn Berries, Elderberry and Rose Hips.

An oxymel is a folk remedy made traditionally with vinegar, honey, and herbs (think fire cider). They are a great alternative (or addition) to alcoholic cocktails this season. I like to add them to soda water and garnish with a few seasonal sprigs and a splash of citrus for a beautiful and delightful digestive tonic.

*You’ll want to start preparing this one a few weeks in advance to let the flavours and medicinal properties of the herbs infuse into the vinegar.

Instructions

Step 1: Fill a jar about 2/3 full with a blend of your favourite winter herbs and spices. Add your apple cider vinegar, leaving about 1 inch of space on the top. Loosely apply the lid and let sit for at least 3 weeks in a dark, cool spot. Check it every couple of days and give it a gentle stir or shake.

Step 2: When it’s time, strain the herbs and add them to the compost. Pour the liquid into a clean jar or bowl and stir in a generous amount of honey until it dissolves. Keep adding more honey if needed. Make sure to taste it. It should taste quite sour and sweet and herbal, and have a slightly syrupy consistency.

Step 3: If you are gifting your oxymel, you can funnel it into smaller giftable jars and make sure to label them with the date. It’s always nice to include a little instruction card so people know how to enjoy them!