Nothing says springtime abundance like this decadent but refreshing elixir! Beyond serving a magnificent flavor profile, it’s also a potent skincare tonic thanks to the beautifying properties of Violet and Tremella. Adding to the well-rounded nature of this skin-supportive recipe is blackberry—a rich source of antioxidants, including anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins responsible for the red, blue, and purple colors of foods that hint at their potent and timely health benefits!
Violet season is currently at its peak, but can continue through Summer depending on your locale. If you have these medicinal flowers growing near you, be sure to harvest some and make the versatile and heavenly Violet syrup that’s incorporated into this recipe. To do so, just add 1 cup of lightly packed fresh Violet flowers (destemmed) to a jar with 1 cup of boiled water. Cover and let it sit overnight to get a strong infusion, then strain and pour the liquid into a small pot with 1 cup of granulated white sugar. Place over medium heat, stirring frequently until the sugar completely dissolves and then let it cool before bottling it up. You won’t regret doubling or tripling the syrup recipe!
This syrup can be enjoyed atop pancakes, to sweeten your coffee, blended into homemade salad dressings, or to deliciously deliver even more benefit to the cream soda recipe we’re sharing here! Violets have inflammation-taming properties, can help relieve coughs, and are cooling and moistening—perfect for this Yang phase of the year. These precious flowers additionally support the lymphatic system, helping to both clear toxins and deliver nourishment to our cells, thus comprehensively promoting clear and supple skin. These benefits are deeply complementary to those of Tremella, which is rich in natural humectants, locking in moisture and enhancing the hydration of our skin. This revered beauty tonic is known for preventing and repairing cellular damage, promoting collagen production, taming inflammation, reducing wrinkles, and further supports graceful aging by protecting against neurodegeneration.
TCM places great importance on eating seasonally, offering a direct pathway for aligning ourselves with the natural world. Believing that nature is inherently intelligent, eating seasonally helps promote harmony between the Yin and Yang energies in our bodies by providing what we need exactly when we need it—in this case, hydrating and cooling blackberries to balance external warmth. Blackberries also support the lymphatic system, are rich in vitamin C, and contain the special aforementioned antioxidants that deeply nourish the gut microbiome.
Ingredients:
- Handful of blackberries
- 1 tbsp Violet Syrup
- ½ C heavy cream
- 1 tsp Tremella extract
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- ½ C sparkling water
- ¼ C still water
- Handful of ice
Preparation Instructions:
- In a small bowl, muddle the blackberries and strain the juice into a glass, being sure to squeeze out every drop
- Add the Violet syrup, still water and sparkling water to a glass, topping with ice
- In a separate jar, place the heavy cream, Vanilla and Tremella extracts, using a handheld milk frother to make whipped cream. Save any leftovers in the jar!
- Add a dollop (or two!) to the glass and voila!
