Geranium Summer Infusion

Geranium is a beautiful and under appreciated medicinal herb that is a delight to have in the garden. Commonly known as Rose geranium, Pelargonium graveolens has a delicious sweet and spicy scent when the heat from the sun releases the essential oils into the air. These precious oils are responsible for much of Geranium’s healing effects, and one of the easiest ways to harness these oils is to infuse the fresh plant in water - such as in this refreshing Geranium Summer Infusion recipe! Geranium is easy to grow, requires little care and can be grown from a cutting. The flowers are edible and can be added to salads and deserts.

​​Healing with Geranium
Geranium is a safe and restoring herb, replenishing us when we have burnt out our resources due to overwork, illness or stress. Having a special affinity with our hormonal system, geranium gently restores our energy, relaxes and uplifts the mind, relieves depression and irritability. For women, geranium is a wonderful ally to balance the reproductive system, helping PMS, menstrual difficulties, infertility and menopausal symptoms.

Geranium tightens tissues in the body, reducing water retention, inflammation and swelling. Topically, geranium can be used to soothe and heal wounds, sprained muscles, bleeding, inflammation and rashes such as eczema and herpes. For these conditions, apply a compress by soaking a cloth in a geranium infusion and placing over the area several times a day.

To Prepare Geranium Summer Infusion
The amounts used can be adjusted to taste. The floral, spicy tones of geranium combine well with the zesty tang of lemon, making for an attractive and tasty summer time drink that is both refreshing and restoring.

• 1 - 2 handfuls of geranium leaves and flowers
• 2 - 3 lemons, juiced
• 1L water
• ​Natural sweetener to taste, such as xylitol, honey, licorice root or stevia

Finely chop the geranium leaves and flowers, place in a pitcher or mason jar. Crush lightly with a wooden mallet or use a mortar and pestle. Cover with 1L water and let sit for several hours to infuse. If using licorice root or stevia to sweeten, add these  before infusing. Once infused, strain the herbs out if desired, add lemon juice and sweetener and serve.

Variations:

• Try other aromatic herbs for making summer infusions. Lemon balm, lemon verbena, hibiscus, mint and lemon basil are all delicious prepared as cold infusions
• Infuse geranium in water kefir during the second fermentation stage for a delicious, fizzy beverage. Alternatively add sparkling water to the cold water infusion​​
• Use the cold infusion to flavour desserts and jellies

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Notes

• Cold water infusions take longer to extract but are wonderful for harnessing delicate volatile oils such as those found in geranium
• Geranium can also be infused with hot water, ensuring the vessel is covered with a tight lid so as not to let the oils escape by evaporation (agee jars are wonderful for this - ensure you use a heat proof vessel!). While other aspects of geranium are extracted well with heat, it does change the nature of the essential oils and hence the flavour of the finished infusion