Many people are curious about the health benefits of spices. As a culinary store we tend to focus more on the abundance of flavors that our spices impart than on their medicinal benefits, but with oxymels these two worlds beautifully blend. Oxymel is the Latin word for acid and honey, and these tart and sweet concoctions have been used for food and medicine for centuries. Here we made two different batches using raw apple cider vinegar and unrefined honey. One batch is more savory and features aji mirasol, a mild South American chili that’s fruity with hints of apricot. To compliment, we added sliced elephant garlic and oranges. For our second batch we made a sweeter version infused with our chamomile based Floral Sonnets tea, fresh ginger, and cinnamon. Oxymels can be used in all kinds of ways. Enjoy them by the spoonful as a digestive aid, incorporated into glazes, vinaigrettes, and marinades; or sipped as a refreshing warm weather beverage with a splash of bubbly water.

Oxymels: Tart and Sweet Elixirs

Ingredients

Savory

• 1 cup raw honey
• 2/3 cup organic raw apple cider vinegar
• 3 Aji Mirasol chiles
• 1 clove elephant garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2 orange, sliced

Sweet

• 1 cup raw honey
• 2/3 cup organic raw apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup Floral Sonnets
• 3 Cassia Sticks
• 2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
• 1/2 lemon, sliced

Instructions

1. Place all the spices for your chosen oxymel (sweet or savory) into a two cup glass jar. Cover the spices with the honey and vinegar and close tightly. Shake, shake, shake until thoroughly mixed. Label and date the jar and store in a cool dark place for two weeks, giving it a little shake every day. After two weeks strain your finished oxymel through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and enjoy!

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If learning about the medicinal use of spices and herbs interests you, Healing Spices by Dr. Bharat B. Aggarwal is a must read. For a jumpstart into using and learning about therapeutic spices, check out our Healing Spices Bundle.