Waldmeistersirup (Sweet Woodruff Syrup)

Ingredients:

1 bunch of sweet woodruff (choose sprigs that have not flowered yet)
800g sugar
500ml water
125ml lemon juice
1 tsp citric acid

Method:

Combine the water, sugar, lemon juice and citric acid in a pan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves to form a syrup. Take off the heat and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, strip the leaves from the sweet woodruff and stuff into a 1 or 1.5l bottle. When the syrup has cooled pour into the bottle with the sweet woodruff leaves. Transfer to the refrigerator and allow to steep for about 5 days, turning every day, or until the woodruff flavour has been imparted into the syrup.

After five days strain the syrup (discard the leaves) then pour the liquid into a clean bottle and store in the refrigerator. In Germany it's common to add a little green food colouring to the woodruff syrup to make it green.

The syrup is used as a cordial, to be mixed with water, can be poured over pancakes or ice cream and can also be added to beer or mixed with spirits.