Spring is in full bloom now and the 1st of May is Beltane, the ancient Celtic Pagan celebration of spring. In the past, and now joyfully revived in my home town of Edinburgh (see https://beltane.org/about-beltane) this festival of fire, fertility and love signifies the possibilities of the year ahead and honours the union of the earth and sky. One thorn tree closely associated with Beltane and with love and the heart is the hawthorn (Crataegus
monogyna). It is in glorious full bloom at this time of year with bright green hand-like leaves and masses of creamy white or sometimes pale pink blossoms. Later in the year these flowers form into bright red berries or “haws” which are loved by birds. This small tree has needle sharp thorns, (so careful when foraging) and is often used in hedgerows to keep livestock safe.
The association of hawthorn with love and passion may come from various places. It is known as the May flower/tree by its flowering at Beltane and therefor is linked with passion and fertility. Its dark blood-red berries in autumn bring thoughts of the heart but the link to love may also be from the traditional medicinal use of hawthorn across the world in different cultures for treatment of heart disease. Maybe it is all of these reasons combined – I guess we’ll never know how legends really arise and can only guess at what our ancestors thought. But we do know that connection of people to nature in the past was strong and no doubt they knew hawthorn intimately. Getting outside into the woods in spring can rekindle our love of nature after a long winter and reminds us that we are part of nature too. We celebrate all things passionate with hawthorn in our popular aphrodisiac cocktail using a homemade hawthorn syrup – get out foraging in the lovely spring weather and have a go at making the hawthorn syrup yourself.
Another tree that is springing into life in Scotland’s woodlands in May is the European larch (Larix decidua). As our only deciduous conifer, it loses its needles in autumn and looks dead during the winter months. If you pass the woods around Dunkeld and Pitlochry in winter, you can see the bare larch amongst the evergreen Scots Pine and spruce. But in spring the vivid green foliage bursts from small nodes on the branches and the vibrancy of the colour just screams new life. Adding to the beauty of this tree are little pink immature cones found along the branch - known as larch roses. Our Larch and Honeysuckle spirit is made with the foliage and roses in a unique 3 month ageing process. Its flavour profile is “forest in a glass” and the aroma alone can transport you deep into the woods in your own home. For our Spring Fling cocktail we’ve paired the Larch spirit with hawthorn syrup and apple juice in a Martini style, short and punchy celebration of our love for Scotland’s trees, garnished with larch roses. You can learn how to identify European Larch here: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/european-larch.
Not to miss out on the celebration of life for non-drinkers we have paired the hawthorn syrup with green tea and Wild Scottish Bitters for a spring flavour boost – garnished with hawthorn leaves or flowers this is mocktail is as pretty as it is tasty.
To make the hawthorn syrup: makes about 300mls A large handful of freshly gathered hawthorn leaves and flowers (rinsed). Place the washed foliage and flowers in a bowl or jug and add 200mls of boiling water Cover and leave at room temperature to infuse and cool overnight. Sieve out the leaves and flowers and add 200g of sugar to the liquid - stir until dissolved. Keep in a closed bottle or jar the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze in an ice cube tray for easy use when required. You can also use hawthorn berries for this recipe in the autumn, but the berries must be boiled in the water for 30 minutes to make it safe, then the sugar added. The berries make the syrup a beautiful red colour but if made with the leaves and flowers only it will turnout golden brown.
Aphrodisiac Cocktail
50mls Highland Boundary Birch and Elderflower Liqueur
25mls homemade hawthorn Syrup
25mls Highland Boundary Rosebay Syrup
25mls lemon juice
Soda or sparkling water
Slice of lemon as garnish
To make the cocktail:
Add ice to a tall class and pour all ingredients in except the Rosebay syrup. Stir with a bar
spoon and drizzle the Rosebay syrup over the top and serve.
Spring Fling Cocktail
50mls Highland Boundary Larch and Honeysuckle Spirit
50mls apple juice
25mls homemade hawthorn Syrup
Splash of lemon juice
Larch ‘roses’ and strip of lemon rind as garnishes
To make the cocktail:
Add ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, stir and strain into a tall wine glass or martini glass. Garnish with larch ‘roses’ and a strip of lemon rind and serve.
Untamed Passion Mocktail
Green tea - infused and chilled
Dash of Wild Scottish Bitters
25mls hawthorn syrup
Soda or sparkling water to lengthen
Hawthorn or mint leaves as garnish
To make the mocktail:
Add lots of ice to a tall glass and pour in all ingredients adding the sparkling water at the
end. Stir with a bar spoon, garnish with hawthorn or mint leaves and serve.
Remember to practice sustainable foraging: be sure you have identified the plant correctly, pick only what you need and take a little from many different plants and places https://foragers-association.org/principles
Allergies and contraindications: remember any plant can be an allergen. If you have allergies to hawthorn you should not drink birch or if you are pregnant or on medication ask your GP about safety.
