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Making Herb Cordials – Simple Homemade Gifts

8:06 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 16 Comments

Making Herb Cordials – Simple Homemade Gifts

Nourishing Herbs. Beautiful Cordials

I have a great suggestion for a simple healthy indulgence. Have you tried making your own herb-infused cordials? Cordials are fun to make, fun to drink, and can be used as gifts for all seasons. Use warming herbs for winter months, cooling herb combinations for summer season, or enjoy anytime!

Until last year, I had only a vague understanding of what cordials were and how they could be enjoyed. Let’s start with a little history…

Herb Cordials – Definition and History

According to Wikipedia; “a cordial is any invigorating and stimulating preparation that is intended strictly for medicinal use.”

That’s a pretty good definition, but it’s not completely accurate. Historically, cordials were used medicinally and produced in apothecaries during the European Renaissance. Over time, cordials evolved into recreational beverages, and led to the development of modern flavored and sweetened liqueurs.

 

 

Make Your Own Herb Cordials. Cordials are fun and easy to make yourself and are great DIY gifts.

 

Creative Cordials

Cordials are blends of herbs, fruit, spices, sweeteners, and alcohol. The combination possibilities are endless! By using different combinations, we can create stimulating and warming cordials to enjoy in the winter, cooling and relaxing cordials for the summer months, and combinations of herbs, fruits and spices to create interesting flavors which are lovely added to tea, beverages, sauces, served over ice cream and used as topping for desserts.

Most cordials are sweetened with sugar, but I suggest trying combinations that include honey, maple syrup, even molasses for added depth of flavor. You can adjust the sweetness according to your taste.

Cordials can be made with fresh or dried ingredients, combined with alcohols such as vodka, brandy, gin and even wine. *If you do not drink alcohol, you can enjoy an herbal syrup added to seltzer or mineral water for a pleasant beverage.

*Non- Alcoholic Cordial Recipe
Ingredients:
Herb of choice
12 tablespoons water
12 tablespoons sugar
Directions:
Bring sugar and water to a boil, add herbs and simmer 8-10 minutes. Strain and bottle.
To use – add about 2 tablespoons (more or less) to 8-ounces of seltzer or mineral water.

Making Herb Cordials – Cordial Combinations

These are suggested recipes, don’t be afraid to get creative and invent your own!

Elderberry and Cinnamon Cordial

 

How to make an elderberry cinnamon cordial

 

Packed full of antioxidants and powerful antiviral medicine, elderberries are excellent for combating cold and flu. Herbalists use alcohol to extract the medicinal properties from the herbs, helping to concentrate the plant’s medicine.

Combined with cinnamon and ginger for flavor and warmth, this cordial is a pleasant way to take our medicine.

  • Elderberries – 1 pint fresh or 1 cup dried
  • 1 pint 80-proof brandy
  • 1 pint Maple Syrup (more or less, depending on desired sweetness)
  • 2-4 cinnamon sticks
  • Fresh ginger – a few slices, depending on your taste
  • Zest of one lemon

Place elderberries in a quart jar with cinnamon, ginger, and lemon zest. Cover with brandy and maple syrup. Allow to infuse for 2 weeks or longer, gently shaking every few days. Strain out the fruit (delicious eaten with ice-cream!) and bottle.

Rosemary, Ginger and Pear Wine

 

How to make herb cordials

 

 

Not a “true” cordial, this recipe makes a nicely flavored wine.  It’s a warming and stimulating combination, especially for the circulatory system. The rosemary provides strong antiviral protection, combined with the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger, making this a pleasant medicinal beverage. It would be lovely added to a tea or used as part of a hot toddy.

  • Rosemary – 2 medium sprigs (roughly 3 inches long) fresh rosemary
  • Ginger – a few slices, depending on your preference
  • 1 Pear, sliced
  • Approximately 1 pint white wine of your choice*

*If you want, you can sweeten the wine with honey added either at the beginning, or after the wine and herbs have infused.

Place all the ingredients into a pint jar and cover with the wine. Allow to infuse at least two weeks. Strain and serve.

 

Hibiscus Roselle and Lemon Balm Cordial

 

Making herb cordials

Hibiscus roselle petals have a tart, fruity flavor, and create a lovely pink color. A flower native to the tropics, hibiscus is cooling and high in antioxidants. I now grow my own and use it in all kinds of fun recipes. you can read more about the benefits of hibiscus here. Combining hibiscus with lemon balm, a member of the mint family, creates a cooling and soothing blend. I recommend vodka for this recipe, to avoid hiding the beautiful red hue from the hibiscus. Sweetened with a *sugar syrup.

  • Hibiscus flowers – 1/2 cup dried
  • Lemon Balm – ½ cup dried
  • Vodka – enough to cover the flowers and lemon balm.

Allow to infuse at least two weeks. When you are ready to bottle, strain the hibiscus and lemon balm, and add the syrup.

*Simple Syrup Instructions

Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water by heating gently in a saucepan. When you are ready to bottle your cordial, add the cooled syrup to the infused vodka.

Holy Basil Cordial

How about a calming cordial, perfect for relieving stress? Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is a deliciously soothing nervine. Not only does Holy Basil help us slow down and relax, it improves the body’s physiology, giving us greater strength and endurance. (Read about the benefits of Holy Basil for stress and adrenal fatigue, and ways you can use it in my post Healing with Herbs – Stress, Overwhelm, and Adrenal Fatigue)

Loosely fill your jar 1/3 full with fresh or dried Holy Basil

Add enough brandy to cover the Holy Basil, stirring thoroughly. After two weeks strain and add 1/2 cup honey (more or less to taste).

Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Cordial

Wouldn’t this be lovely served with a holiday meal?

1 cup Cranberries
2 Apples, skins removed, and sliced
2 sticks Cinnamon
sugar syrup
Vodka to cover fruit

Add the cranberries, apples, and cinnamon to jar and cover with vodka. Let steep for at least a week, then strain out the fruit.

*Sugar Syrup Instructions

Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water by heating gently in a saucepan. When you are ready to bottle your cordial, add the cooled syrup to the infused vodka. Combining homemade violet syrup with your cordials makes a delightful treat.

Cordial Uses

What are some of the ways we can use cordials? Consumed in fancy little “cordial” glasses, combined with other beverages like teas, mixed drinks, or added to white wines or sparkling water, drizzled over fruits, ice cream, and cakes, used in sauces and marinades, and given as gifts in decorative bottles.

I am enjoying herb-infused cordials, both as an indulgence, and for gifting. I hope you enjoy them too.

~ Michelle

Filed Under: Healing Herbs, Simple Food Tagged With: herb cordials, how to make herb cordials, making cordials

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marla says

    at 12:13 pm

    Hi Michelle,
    This sound like a wonderful herbal drink that would be tasty, tart and extremely healthy. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!

    Reply
  2. Jenn says

    at 9:58 am

    A person rarely leaves my house without a homemade gift of some kind, and it’s usually canned goods of some sort. Thanks for linking to the Homestead Blog Hop!

    Reply
    • Seeking Joyful Simplicity says

      at 8:13 am

      What a lovely idea, having home-made gifts available for guests!
      Thank you for visiting Jenn

      Reply
  3. tonia conner says

    at 8:07 pm

    When you say bottle them, what does that consist of please? These sound very good.

    Reply
    • Seeking Joyful Simplicity says

      at 9:14 am

      Hi Tonia,
      I generally use canning jars to make my cordials, and I purchased some narrow corked bottles for storing the finished cordials. I wanted something attractive for gifting. I searched online for small corked jars, but ended up buying some at our local craft store (Michael’s actually.) Here is what I used, but as I said, these are just for making the cordials look special.
      http://www.michaels.com/clear-wine-bottle-with-cork-by-ashland/10388228.html#start=16

      Reply
  4. Maria from Collecting Moments says

    at 1:44 pm

    What lovely and refreshing recipes! Perfect for the summer and good for the health too. Thanks so much for sharing this with us on #shinebloghop this week

    Reply
  5. Karen Grosz says

    at 5:04 pm

    I have never tried a cordial, but will be pinning this for future. Thanks for sharing this recipe on Let’s Get Real Link Up.

    Reply
  6. Katy SkipTheBag.com says

    at 10:26 pm

    That hibiscus lemon one sounds unbelievable. Thanks for sharing at the #WasteLessWednesday Blog Hop! I can’t wait to see what you share next week.

    Reply
    • Seeking Joyful Simplicity says

      at 8:37 am

      Thanks for hosting us!

      Reply
  7. tarahlynn says

    at 11:21 am

    This sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party – hope to see you at the next one that starts tomorrow! Pinned!

    Reply
  8. Anne says

    at 12:31 am

    I’ve made basic cordials, but nothing as invented as you have here. I’m pinning so I can make some for my gift closet,

    Reply
    • Seeking Joyful Simplicity says

      at 8:22 am

      Have fun with them!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Hibiscus Flower – Beautiful, Delicious, and Healing | Seeking Joyful Simplicity says:
    at 11:40 am

    […] The fleshy calyces are harvested in the fall and used in cooking, to make beverages, both hot and cold, in making jams and preserves, syrups, and added to foods for flavoring and color. I enjoy making a beautiful Hibiscus Cordial – it makes a lovely gift! (You can read about cordials and find the Hibiscus Cordial recipe on my post Herb Cordials – Simple Homemade Gifts.) […]

    Reply
  2. Summer Herbs: Recipes and Remedies - Thyme To Embrace Herbs says:
    at 10:17 pm

    […] introduces Herb-Infused Cordials, something I was not familiar with.  I love the history associated with it, and anything used in […]

    Reply
  3. Homemade Herbal Gifts – 20 Inspiring Ideas for the Holidays | Seeking Joyful Simplicity says:
    at 10:05 am

    […] Herbal Infused Cordials combine healing herbs with fruit and alcohol for a delightful beverage that offers both taste and medicine. Use warming herbs and seasonal flavors to create beautiful holiday beverages. […]

    Reply
  4. How to Make Violet Syrup says:
    at 8:01 am

    […] to cocktails and cordials for lovely color, flavor, and health […]

    Reply

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Hello and welcome! Seeking Joyful Simplicity is about creating space in your life for the things that matter most - abundant health, joy, and contentment. With a holistic approach focused on self-reflection, simple foods, and herbal support, I offer a practical approach to living with purpose and vibrant health. Want to learn more? Start here…

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Disclaimer and Disclosure

The information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family’s health. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and maintaining health. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose any disease, nor is it intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust, and above all, listen to and trust in yourself. Be well!

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