Flower Infused Honey
Sitting with the late May sun warming my back while I soak up all the green that surrounds me I long to capture this time & place. There is growth and fertility wherever my eyes land. Woodpeckers tap out a hollow rhythm in the woods beyond the pond as tadpoles wiggle up to kiss the surface from below, glossy blue swallows glide and skim above. Courtship rituals are enacted & nest materials gathered. Irises swell to break free from their papery skins and heavy wands of Lilac waft their scented benediction into the breeze.
I am visiting my family on the East Coast and after a long year of separation, being together feels extra poignant & potent. I love to create elixirs, spells & potions at this time of year when the deprivation and austerity of Winter have thoroughly passed. The days are rushing toward their apex of light and the seeds that were planted in the dark must be tended and nurtured in order for the harvest to be collected in the Summer & Fall. One of my favorite ways to bottle moments like this is making Flower Honey.
It's a simple + delicious way to capture the magic of this moment to savor + fortify us on the path of manifestation. Since the Lilacs are at their peak here, so I made Lilac Honey, but you can use a variety of edible flowers depending on what is in bloom. Even dried edible flowers can be used if that is what you have available. Some options might be Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Roses, Elderflowers, Calendula, Borage and Violets. Fragrant flowers will scent the honey, colorful flowers may tint it. The flower you choose will imbue the honey with its magic and properties. Google what your local options might be if you need inspiration. I used fresh from our garden so I know that there hasn't been any chemical or sprays used. Definitely consider that as you choose your source. I think picking the flowers first thing in the morning, before the Sun has hit them is best. Asking permission from the flowers and leaving a gift for the Fae are also good practices. Once you have your flowers the rest is dead simple.
Flower Honey
Here is how I make it. Feel free to modify and adjust to your own needs and ingredients.
Rinse the flowers if you feel they are a bit dusty.
Shake off excess moisture or leave to dry a bit on a kitchen towel
Remove any leaves or stems from the flowers
Fill a jar with a tight lid ( like a canning jar) with your flowers. You can really fill the jar quite full as the flowers will wilt and breakdown in the honey
Slowly pour honey on top of the flowers. Think about choosing a local raw organic honey to reinforce the magic.
Honey is thick so it will take a bit for it to soak through the flowers. I use a chopstick to gently push down the honey and release the air bubbles. Continue to top off the honey and release the air bubbles till the jar is completely full.
Screw on the lid and set the jar on a sunny windowsill ( it can sit anywhere. It's just extra pretty in a window sill)
The flowers will wilt and break down and float to the top after several hours. This is normal. You may have room for a bit more honey. Let the flowers soak in the honey for at least a week, flipping the jar over at least once a day to keep the flowers completely submerged in honey as they will float to the top of the jar.
You can strain out the flowers after a week, leave them and eat them. Your choice.
You can use the Flower Honey on toast, in tea, or even in a cocktail (wink). Keep it on your altar to honor the sweetness of Spring or in a Full Moon potion. There are so many ways to enjoy it. I would love to hear your ideas and uses if you try this sweet & simple way to celebrate flowers and Spring. Chime in, in the comments below.
