RJ Homestead

There’s something magical about exploring your own backyard with a curious child. Today, between the rain clouds, my daughter Eva and I embarked on a mini adventure, checking on our patch of wild violets and cleavers. But wait! What’s this? A cluster of vibrant purple flowers peeking out – something new to our backyard ecosystem!

Intrigued, we had to investigate. A quick smartphone consultation later, and we had our answer: grape hyacinths! Now, for someone who loves lemonade as much as Eva does, this discovery sparked immediate excitement. Apparently, grape hyacinths can be used to make a unique and colorful lemonade – a perfect project for a rainy afternoon!

From Flower Power to Floral Flavors

Our grape hyacinth harvest wasn’t the biggest, but hey, it was an adventure! Eva, ever the enthusiastic helper, carefully removed the delicate flowers from their stems while I prepped the water for boiling. The recipe we found called for a simple syrup made with the hyacinths, and the ratio was roughly a cup of flowers to two cups of water. We tossed everything in a mason jar and let it steep for an hour, allowing the floral magic to work its charm.

Lemonade Magic While We Wait

While the hyacinth infusion did its thing, I whipped up a simple lemonade base. Using one and a half cups of water, I squeezed the fresh juice from two eager lemons. A quick stir, and into the fridge it went to chill.

A Hint of Floral Mystery

After an hour of anticipation, it was time to peek at our floral infusion. While the online descriptions boasted a strong floral presence, our concoction had a more subtle, but pleasant, floral note. No worries though! We strained out the flowers and measured out a cup of the fragrant liquid, ready to transform it into a vibrant simple syrup.

The Big Reveal: Pink Magic in a Glass!

Now came the part that had Eva bouncing with excitement. We added our bluish-hued hyacinth syrup to the chilled lemonade, and – ta-da! – a chemical reaction right before our eyes! The two liquids swirled and transformed into a beautiful shade of pink. Science is fun, isn’t it?

We carefully added more of the syrup until the lemonade reached a perfect balance of sweet and tart, perfectly tailored to Eva’s taste buds.

A Foraging Success Story

Our grape hyacinth lemonade experiment was a resounding success! Eva eagerly devoured her creation, and we both agreed it was a delightful change from the usual lemonade routine. This unexpected backyard discovery not only resulted in a delicious drink but also sparked a love for exploring the hidden treasures nature has to offer. Next time we head out on a forage walk, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for those little purple flowers – they might just hold the key to our next backyard adventure in a glass!

Grape Hyacinth Lemonade

This vibrant lemonade gets a delightful twist from fragrant grape hyacinth flowers. It’s a fun and educational activity to do with kids, and the beautiful color change as you mix the ingredients is a mini science experiment in itself!

Ingredients:

• For the Grape Hyacinth Simple Syrup:
  • 1 cup fresh grape hyacinth flowers
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
• For the Lemonade:
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • Juice from 2 lemons
  • Grape Hyacinth Simple Syrup (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Make the Grape Hyacinth Simple Syrup:
   • Carefully remove the flowers from the stems.
   • In a mason jar, combine the flowers and boiling water.
   • Let the mixture steep for at least 1 hour.
   • Strain the liquid into a saucepan, discarding the flowers.
   • Add the sugar to the strained liquid and heat over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Add equal parts sugar and water.
   • Remove from heat and let cool completely.
2. Make the Lemonade:
   • In a pitcher, combine the water and lemon juice.
   • Stir well to combine.
3. Assemble and Enjoy!
   • Add the cooled grape hyacinth simple syrup to the lemonade, a little at a time, to taste. The amount you’ll need will depend on your preference for sweetness and the strength of the floral flavor in your syrup.
   • Stir well and chill the lemonade before serving.

Tips:

• Make sure to identify the grape hyacinths correctly before using them. There are other bulb plants that look similar but may be toxic.
• If you don’t have enough grape hyacinth flowers, you can supplement with a few violets for a similar floral touch.
• The simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• For a fun presentation, add a few edible flowers like pansies or violets to your finished lemonade.