Sweet woodruff schnapps

Sweet woodruff schnapps - based on fresh sweet woodruff leaves or flower buds - has a verdigris green colour, changing to light yellow after some time.

It has a fresh, aromatic and very enjoyable taste of woods and flowers.

Very good as appetizer.

Sweet woodruff

Galium odoratum - (syn. Asperula odorata)

Sweet woodruff - also known as sweetscented bedstraw - is a pretty, low growing plant with a characteristic sweet fragrance.

It grows in woods and other moist, shady places and spreads rapidly making an ideal ground cover.

It's one of the first plants to bloom in spring.

The leaves are bright green and arranged in starlike whorls around the erect, slender and square stems.

The plant has small clusters of chalk white flowers.

Here in Denmark, sweet woodruff is very common throughout the country, except in north and west Jutland (Jylland), where it's rarely found.

It grows in moist humus-rich soil in beech woods, oak woods, and shrubs.

More information about the sweet woodruff plant

Recipe

Use either fresh sweet woodruff leaves or flower buds.

Leaves: Pick the leaves - the top shoots - just before bloom. Or right after. That's when they are most aromatic.

Flower buds: Pick only the fully developed flower buds just before they start to open. Or right after.

You can dry the leaves in the shadow for a couple of days before steeping - but I don't recommend it.

The result is usually a very sweet schnapps - almost sickening.

That's because the active constituent coumarin is developed during the drying process.

Nevertheless, I know people who prefer their sweet woodruff schnapps made that way. So, I suggest you make just a little portion and taste if you like it.

Direction:

• Rinse the flower buds or leaves carefully - but only if necessary.
• Leave them to dry for a short period in the shadow - on paper towel.
• Use a clean glass jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Fill the jar with flower buds or leaves.
• Cover with clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% (80 proof).
• Let steep in a dark place at room temperature,
  18-20°C (64-68°F).

  Flower buds: Steep 24 hours or less.

  Leaves: Steep 2-3 days or less.

  Dried leaves: Steep 2 weeks or less.

• 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.

Your sweet woodruff schnapps is ready now. There is no need to store it - storage (aging) doesn't improve the flavours. On the contrary.

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 sweet woodruff schnapps at room temperature in suitable glasses. And remember to keep your schnapps bottle tightly closed and in a dark place before and between servings.