Linden schnapps

Linden schnapps - based on fresh flower buds from the small-leaved linden tree - has a fresh, fruity taste with notes of green apples and gooseberry.

It's a highly aromatic schnapps with a wonderful aroma. Very good as aperitif or after-dinner drink.

Normally a flavoured schnapps should be enjoyed at room temperature, but with linden schnapps you can enjoy it lightly chilled, 8-10°C (46-50°F).

Serve with light foods, desserts, cakes, cheese and cheesecakes.

Or try to add one or two drops to a glass of neutral white wine or dry sparkling wine. Wonderful on a warm summer day or before a meal.

Or try to combine linden schnapps with maple schnapps, rowan schnapps, rose schnapps - and dandelion root schnapps.

It makes a highly enjoyable and very harmonious schnapps blend.

Also, see how you can easily...
turn your linden schnapps into a liqueur.

Small-leaved linden

The small-leaved linden tree - also known as small-leaved lime tree - grows to a height of about 35 meters.

It's a deciduous tree with a wide-spreading crown and shiny, sharply toothed, obliquely heart-shaped leaves, which are dark green above and pale green underneath.

The small, highly fragrant flowers are yellow-white.

They hang from slender stems in pendulous clusters of 4-10 on a stem.

Each stem also has a winged, narrow, papery and pale green bract, which helps the small, round fruits to float away on the wind.

The small-leaved linden tree grows in moist, clay soil. It's common throughout Denmark, where it's planted in gardens, parks and along road sides, city streets and boulevards.

Grows wild in wood edges, oak shrubs and mixed woodsin southern and eastern Denmark, especially in the woods of Bolderslev and Uge near the town of Aabenraa in south Jutland (Jylland).

The wood from various linden species is prized for its pale colour and light weight. It's very usable for wood carving, wood turning, and in the making of musical instruments, sounding boards for pianos and organ building.

The wood is also used for making artist charcoal.

The stringy inner bark is called bast or bass. It's strong and elastic, and mainly used by gardeners. But it's also used to make baskets, mats, ropes, etc.

The sweetly scented flowers attract lots of bees, and Linden Honey is considered to be one the most aromatic and valuable in the world. It's used in liqueurs and medicine.

Dried linden flowers and leaves are used for tea making.

More information about the small-leaved linden tree (lime tree)

Recipe

Use fresh flower buds from the small-leaved linden tree.

Pick them just before bloom, but wait till you clearly sense the wonderful fragrance from the tree.

Direction:

• If wet - dry the flower buds in the shadow on a piece of paper towel.
• Use a clean glass jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Fill the jar with flower buds.
• Cover well with clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% alcohol content (80 proof).
• Let steep for 1-3 days in a dark place at room temperature,
  18-20°C (64-68°F).
• Shake lightly and taste it from time to time.
• Strain and filter your infusion into a clean glass bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Store (age) for a couple of days in a dark place at room temperature before serving. Can be stored for almost one year. After that the taste and flavours tend to fade out.

Note: If for some reason you are not satisfied with your infusion, there are ways to adjust both taste and flavours - click here to see how.

Serve your linden schnapps lightly chilled in suitable glasses. And remember to keep your schnapps bottle tightly closed and in a dark place before and between servings.