Hawthorn berries are small red-orange fruits that grow on a thorny tree. When they are ripe, they can be simmered with local herbs into a gently tart, aromatic drink.
This is the kind of simple seasonal recipe Uri often returns to: a handful of fruit, a few leaves from familiar plants, and enough time for the water to pull their flavor into the cup. In historical and traditional herbal writing, hawthorn is often associated with the heart; here it is offered first as a warm, local fruit-and-herb infusion.
Safety note: Use only positively identified hawthorn berries gathered from clean, unsprayed areas. Hawthorn may interact with heart or blood-pressure medications, so consult a qualified clinician if that is relevant to you.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hawthorn berries (about 4 oz / 115 g)
- 3 cups water (720 ml)
- 3-4 fresh sage leaves
- 3-4 fresh hyssop leaves
Instructions:
- Wash the hawthorn berries well.
- Place the berries, water, sage, and hyssop in a small pot.
- Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for about 30 minutes.
- Strain and serve warm, or let cool and serve chilled.
