Capture the essence of lilacs with a lilac honey infusion. Lilacs are an ephemeral experience. Their season is short, yet oh-so sweet, and one must savor their fragrant floral aroma. Their beauty, like all things, is temporary. Through lilacs’ transient nature , they teach us how to calmly accept the impermanence of life, gracefully embrace change, and let go of attachments freely.
Lilac Lessons
I don’t think one ever forgets their first experience smelling lilacs. I was in elementary school. There were lilac bushes right over the fence of our playground. Once my friends and I were acquainted with their intoxicating aroma, we picked those blooms like the little rascals we were back then. I remember being disappointed by how quickly they wilted, which led to feeling deeply sorry for having picked them. I was a very sensitive child. Especially when it came to hurting any living thing’s feelings, which I assumed I had done since they wilted right away.
As I grew, I learned the lilacs were not sad to have been picked or say goodbye. They were here to remind us that life is impermanent, but beautiful, and it’s OK to let go. That’s not to say I didn’t figure out how to keep lilacs fresh for longer, though! You can read how to do so here.
I also learned that lilacs are not only highly aromatic, but they are also edible! With lilac season coming to a close, I figured what better way to preserve their essence than with a lilac honey infusion.
Lilac Honey Infusion
By infusing raw, local honey with lilacs, we can preserve their fleeting essence, which ironically helps us to let go. Allow to infuse in a sunny window. Strain if you want, but it’s not necessary. Enjoy as you normally would, but really take in the lilac essence and all it has to offer.
Lilac Flower Essence
Lilac tastes aromatic, astringent, slightly bitter, and floral. The essence of lilac is revitalizing, relaxing, and rejuvenating. It helps us restore lightness, adapt quickly, and let go of anything we’re holding onto. Lilacs help us calmly accept the impermanence of life, gracefully embrace change, and let go of attachments freely. If you think of how fleeting lilacs are, it all makes perfect sense. By taking lilac honey infusion, we boost our own essence with these qualities.
Local, Raw Honey
Since raising our own honey bees, I’ve learned how important it is to choose high-quality raw honey versus pasteurized, filtered honey. When honey is unheated and unfiltered, it contains living enzymes, aminos, vitamins, and minerals. It also contains plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. Placing the lilac honey infusion in a sunny window helps infuse the flower essence into the honey without overheating it and destroying its nutritive properties.
Alright, grab the last lilacs of the season, so you can capture their ephemeral essence while simultaneously letting go.
Lilac Honey Infusion
Ingredients
- Lilac petals
- Raw, local honey
Instructions
- Fill a clean jar 3/4 full with lilac petals.
- Pour honey over lilac petals. Place in a sunny window. Flip jar upside down once per day for at least 1 week and up to 4.
- Strain honey, if desired.
May you always appreciate the beauty in fleeting moments and have the ability to calmly let them pass.
hello, how long should the infusion take? 14 days or four weeks as stated in the recipe?
Hey, Mariana! Sorry for the confusion. The plugin for the recipe only allows you to put one number, so I went with 14 days, but you can do anywhere from 1 week and up to 4, as the recipe states 馃檪