The end of Summer also means the end of the Lehua harvest. The bees are now gathering nectar from the Wilelaiki blossoms in the Northern part of the island and we are enjoying a little bit of a break. This recipe is an incredibly refreshing, herbal-flavored cocktail that is a great drink at the end of a long day. The Wilelaiki honey gives the herbs and citrus a nice balance, without being too sweet like many mixed drinks.
I chose to use Herbologie Tea in this recipe because they are known for their healing properties. They are naturally preserved with probiotics made from fermented herbs. These active enzymes are said to help aid digestion and the immune function. Enjoy with or without a splash of gin!
Island Beauty Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Herbologie Island Beauty Tea* (or tea of preference that has cooled to room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 teaspoons rosemary and honey simple syrup (recipe below)
- 1 oz good quality gin
*Island Beauty tea is a delicious infusion of Mamaki, Ginger, Hibiscus and Coffee Berry. You can shop their teas at herbologieteas.com. - Ice cubes
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients and pour over ice.
- Accompany with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
Rosemary & Honey Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup organic Wilelaiki honey
- ¼ cup water
- 1 6-inch sprig of rosemary.
Directions:
- Blend honey and water in a small saucepan.
- Add rosemary and warm over low heat for about 5-7 minutes, until the honey melts and the rosemary flavor infuses into the syrup.
- Remove from heat and strain the syrup into a glass jar. This syrup can keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
About Herbologie
Herbologie’s mission is to produce cutting edge value-added US agricultural products that are functional, flavorful, and socially responsible. They provide opportunities to U.S. farmers by locally sourcing at least 50% of their ingredients. In addition to supporting other farmers, they grow several of their ingredients hydroponically in-house making a truly farm-to-bottle product.
Our introduction to this innovative company was a couple of years ago when we were contacted by Monika Tornis, herbalist and president, who was looking for organic, Hawaiian honey to use in her bottled teas: Herbologie Hawaiian Herbal Elixirs. We were so impressed with the flavorful and healthy blends that we ordered them immediately to offer at our museum store. There are six blends available, all delicious and good for you too! One of my favorites is Serenity, a natural stress reducer made with a blend of Hawaiian holy basil, lemon balm, lavender flower, passion flower and our organic Wilelaiki honey.
Herbologie recently moved to a new location in Kaimuki. Check them out next time you are on Oahu! They have a store front and a production kitchen on the corner of Waialae and Kokohead Avenue. You can also order them directly at: herbologieteas.com
