Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Dried · From Bladwijzer
Dried lime blossom
- Makes: ± 1 jar of 500 ml
- Time: 15 min + 5–10 days drying
- From: Silver lime
Ingredients
- ± 100 g fresh lime blossom (a large basketful, whole clusters with bract)
- 1 rack or clean linen cloth
- 1 airtight jar or paper bag
Method
- Shake the blossom and remove leaves and any brown or damaged flowers.
- Spread the clusters loosely in a single layer on the rack or cloth, somewhere airy and shady. Turn them every day.
- Leave to dry for 5–10 days, until crisp. A dehydrator also works: 4–6 hours at 35–40 °C with the door ajar.
- Check that nothing still feels soft or bendy; otherwise the blossom will go mouldy. If so, leave it to dry longer.
- Crumble the blossom coarsely and put it in the jar. Write the date on it.
- For tea: 1 tablespoon of blossom per 250 ml hot water, steeped for 8–10 minutes.
Storing: A year in a closed jar or paper bag, dry and dark.