Lemon Myrtle Cordial

Now that the summer heat has arrived, it is always nice to have a refreshing non alcoholic beverage to offer guests. I made this drink a couple of weeks ago and received rave reviews, people offering to pay me to make bottles for them. So it could be an ideal homemade Christmas gift with a pretty ribbon tied around the bottle.

It is also a very attractive shrub and this bush tucker plant has many uses, so why not plant a hedge.

Ingredients

1 cup lemon juice or a combination of lemon and lime juice
4 cups water
2 cups caster sugar
1 piece of organic lemon rid pith removed the size of a  tablespoon
1 1/2 half cups of fresh, young lemon myrtle leaves well washed


Method

Combine all the ingredients apart from the fresh lemon myrtle leaves in a large saucepan.
Bring to the boil and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring to dissolve the sugar
Remove from heat, add fresh lemon myrtle leaves and steep for half an hour at least.
Remove the leaves and pour the cordial into clean bottles and store in the fridge.

Then when ready to serve simply add iced water or soda/mineral water to a measure of cordial depending on taste.

It will disappear quickly.


Mamma Marmalade