Ah! for the love of lemons and the cool breeze on a hot summer day. There is something about Summer that fills your heart with sunshine and somersaults with joy. But as the sun rises in the sky, it is time to beat the heat with something cold and refreshing. Fresh, breezy, floral, and citrusy cocktails are like chamomile tea for the soul in the warm weather of Summer.
On that note, let’s talk about Chamomile & Lemon flavour pairing for your sipping pleasure to bring alive the season of summer. This combination is absolutely sublime. It is summer packed in a glass.
“Chamomile are feathers from the wings of seraphim angels, thrown as an offering to the earth for each bird hunted in the sky.” ~ Corina Abdulahm-Negura
The Chamomile Flower is a small white flower with a yellow center that looks like a mini Daisy. In fact, it belongs to the Asteraceae plant family that also includes flowers like Daisy, Sunflower, and Marigold. Chamomile is an aromatic flower that is known for its soothing and calming effect and is used mainly in teas and tisanes to help relieve stress and anxiety. It has gentle notes of apples and a delicate honey-like sweetness. This explains the genesis of its name, derived from the Greek word “khamaimēlon” which means ground apples.
Chamomile has been used in cultures all across the world as a herbal remedy for over 5000 years. It was widely used as a medicinal herb by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. In fact, the ancient Egyptians revered Chamomile as a herb that could cure fever and dedicated it to their Sun God, Ra. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, has described chamomile as a medicinal plant sometimes in the late 5th century BC. It is also one of the nine sacred herbs that the Saxons used as a treatment against all diseases.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Chamomile made its way into the alcohol industry. In the Middle Ages, the English Monks used it as a bittering agent while brewing their beer. The Spanish used it as a flavouring agent for their Sherry. Interestingly, the Manzanilla (Spanish for Chamomile) Sherry is said to contain chamomile aroma notes.
Although there are several varieties of Chamomile, the German (Matricaria Chamimila) and the Roman or English (Chamaemelum Nobile) variety are the most sought after as medicinal remedies. This age-old folk remedy has been used for multiple purposes like aromatherapy, cosmetics, medicines, insect repellent, as well as a flavouring agent in food and beverages. Many people drink Chamomile Tea as a staple at night to induce and improve the quality of sleep. Historically, it has been used to treat women’s health problems like menstrual cramps, fertility, uterine infections, etc. Chamomile is loaded with oils that have numerous health benefits and is used to treat wounds, acne, ulcers, hay fever, cold and cough, inflammations, gastrointestinal infections, muscle spasms, rheumatic pain, etc.
And for all you literary geniuses, do remember that even Peter Rabbit’s mother would send him to bed with a cup of chamomile tea!
Lemon Curd is a perfect way to bring sunshine into your day. It is a rich dessert spread or topping that is basically a preserve made with Lemon, sugar, and eggs. It is used by many as an alternative to Jam. Lemon Curd is a thick, soft, and velvety cream that is tangy as well as sweet.
A bouquet of flowers in a glass! A perfect brunch libation to complement your garden soirée.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Tasting Notes: A bright, lemony, and floral cocktail. The fresh and zingy taste of the Lemon Curd amps up the citrus notes in the drink as well as adding a sweet tangy flavour to it. In fact, the lemon intensity in the cocktail is doubled by the Lemon Curd. The sweet and lightly herbal notes of Chamomile lend a sophisticated and unique flavour to the cocktail. The delicate and floral notes of the Elderflower are enhanced by the floral, citrusy, and earthy notes of the Gin. The Yogurt brings a light creamy, smooth, and tangy dimension to the cocktail. The egg white, lemon curd, and yogurt work together beautifully to create a velvety and luscious texture and mouthfeel. A Perfectly balanced and smoothly refreshing Cocktail.
Food Pairing:
