Spring is the most delightful time to visit the farmer’s market, as it is filled with an abundance of colourful, diverse, and eye-catching produce.
The unusual combination of Strawberries with Basil is yet another delightful discovery on our spring cocktail journey. The pairing of strawberries with basil truly celebrates the season with its quintessential spring-summer flavour.
The bright red, sweet, and juicy Strawberries are a favourite fruit for many. Strawberries are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are necessary to boost immunity, improve skin health, fight inflammation, and are good for the heart and the eyes.
Basil is a culinary herb that belongs to the mint family. It has a fragrant and fresh aroma and a peppery taste. It is a perfect flavouring ingredient in many dishes that range from Italian to Thai & Vietnamese. It is most likely a native to India. Currently, it is cultivated in many countries across the world. There are various kinds of Basil one can choose from. Some of the popular varieties are as follows:
Sweet Basil: The most common variety of Basil that is widely grown and is popular in many Mediterranean & Italian dishes. Manly used in salads, marinades, and pesto. It is rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants
Thai Basil: This variety has smaller leaves than the sweet basil and has a strong and bold anise-licorice flavour. Since it can withstand high heat, it is mainly used in Thai & Southeast Asian dishes like stir fry.
Lemon Basil: Has a distinct lemon aroma. It is mainly included in salads, grilled vegetables, fish, and poultry dishes. It is rich in vitamins, especially vitamin A.
Cinnamon Basil: This variety of basil has a spicy cinnamon-like aroma and flavour and is native to Mexico. It is paired with fruit dishes.
Holy Basil: Also known as Tulsi in India. It is used for religious ceremonies and Ayurvedic medicines. It is a sacred herb in many parts of the world and is often dubbed as ‘The elixir of life’. It has many therapeutic qualities.
INGREDIENTS
We strongly suggest making your own strawberry syrup to infuse that fresh strawberry flavour in your drink and to avoid any artificial flavours that might disturb the delicate taste balance of the cocktail.
DIRECTIONS
Tasting Notes: This delicious cocktail tastes as good as it looks. The combination of strawberries and basil form a symphony of sweet and herbal notes that balance each other. Lillet Blanc is the secret ingredient that adds a complexity to the drink by bringing a flavour bouquet of honey, candied orange peel, raisin, and spring flowers to the table. The St. Germain adds the elderflower and floral notes that round off this drink beautifully.
Food Pairing: